Mental Health Oversight Committee
APPROVED MINUTES
June 28, 2007
MEMBERS PRESENT: Sen. Douglas Racine, Co-Chair, Rep. Mike Fisher, Co-Chair, Sen. George Coppenrath, Sen. Diane Snelling, Sen. Jeanette White, Rep. Anne Donahue, Rep. Mitzi Johnson and Rep. Thomas Koch
Meeting Recorded: CD 2007 2-4
Convene and Approve the May 11, 2006 and November 28, 2006 Mental Health Oversight Committee Meeting Minutes
Rep. Tom Koch made a motion to approve the minutes, Sen. Coppenrath seconded the motion, the motion was carried and the minutes where unanimously approved.
VSH Futures Update/State of Mental Health Systems of Care Update:
Michael Hartman, Deputy Commissioner, Mental Health Division, VDH
Mr. Hartman stated the following:
State of Mental Health Systems of Care Update:
Charlie Biss, Director, Child Adolescence and Family Unit
Mr. Biss described the history of the children’s mental health care movement indicating that the mental health system for children is being provided by Medicaid and Education to provide mental health services. But there is a need to provide much more prescribed services. Mr. Biss stated that Medicaid doesn’t pay for psychiatric consultation. There is a problem in terms as to what is needed. The money that has gone in the schools has been for Special Education.
In conclusion, Mr. Biss stated that they were serving 4,000 children now they are serving 11,000. New population concerns are adopted children, sexual offending behaviors, developmental delays, pervasive mental health and Autism. Other issues are children with diabetes and eating disorders. Right now they are mandated to serve severely mentally ill children.
Dr. Charlotte R. McGray, Psychologist
Adult and Family Therapy P.C., Middlebury, VT
Dr. McGray addressed concerns about health insurance being non-responsive to the needs and experiences of the customer.
In conclusion, the committee heard that there is a need to provide the state with adequate psychiatric coverage and to have adequate treatment and access for children.
Ed Paquin, Vermont Protection and Advocacy (VP&A), Montpelier, VT
Mr. Paquin urged the MHOC members to look broadly at Vermont’s evolving system, particularly insuring that this system builds on the core value of delivery of trauma services in community settings with the goal of individual recovery. To further that end, Mr. Paquin pointed out several core issues found listed on his handout.
John O’Brien, Psych. Tech, VSH
Conor Casey, VSEA
Mr. O’Brien stated that the acuity is very high. Space is a problem. VSH staff is still there and still doing the hard work. VSH has been reduced in seclusion restraints.
Mr. Casey made it clear to the MHOC that other states have a specialized facility for the mentally ill that are in corrections and he would like them to consider an alternative.
Julie Tessler, Director Vermont Council of Developmental and Mental Health Services, Inc.
Ms. Tessler thanked the legislature for their support of mental health and that it has been extremely important in securing adequate funding for the community services; demanding improvements in the quality of care at Vermont State Hospital; maintaining the tax exemption for adult foster care; keeping the Futures process on a viable path; reestablishing a Department and Commissioner of Mental Health and ensuring that private health insurance includes mental health benefits in parity with physical health benefits, just to name a few accomplishments.
Vermont council recommended to the MHOC to consider focusing their efforts on a study that was included in the Fiscal Year 2007 Appropriations Act. They view the Sustainability Study as laying the foundation for the entire developmental, mental health and substance abuse system into the future.
Ms. Tessler shared with the members of the committee the response of the Council to those initial findings (Please see handout).
A final recommendation from Vermont Council to the MHOC is to consider in the context of sustaining the commitment to Vermonters with mental illness is whether the restructured system of human services, with the expanding role of Regional Field Directors is creating added value and increased efficiencies to our service system.
Leah Matteson and Joanna Cole, National Alliance for Mental Illness, (NAMI-VT)
Leah Matteson gave her personal testimony indicating a lack of support for family members in the mental health system and those programs need to be offered to support families on a regular on-going basis. Ms. Matteson outlined ten issues and concerns (listed in handout).
Ms. Matteson also handed out issues on NAMI-VT’s advocacy agenda with the most urgent actions listed first.
Ms. Matteson stated NAMI-VT graded the states around the country and the average grade was a D for most states in dealing with Mental Health issues. New Hampshire and Maine stands out from the rest of the states in terms of some of their unique innovative programs. Sen. Racine would like to look at other states to see if there is a better mental health system. NAMI-VT will be compiling some of the best practices/models that are out there and they will be happy to share it with MHOC.
Rep. Fisher stated that that some of the testimonies that where missing today are the consumer voices and the hospitals.
The next MHOC meeting is scheduled for July 19, 2007 starting at 9:30 a.m. in room 10 at the State House.
Minutes respectively submitted by:
Lynn Hegamyer, MHOC Committee Assistant