[{"_1":2,"_98":-5,"_99":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":56,"_74":56},"mediaId",6351828,"mediaKeyId","2226471-362be18b414b6f20d988323efa671230","parentId",2226471,"title","Health Department proposes stabilization beds, aftercare navigators and a recovery campus in FY2026 plan","audioSeconds",404,"startMs",3619904,"endMs",4024080,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2226471-362be18b414b6f20d988323efa671230&start=3619&end=4024","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2226471-362be18b414b6f20d988323efa671230/thumbnail_3619904.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6351828/Vermont/Health-Department-proposes-stabilization-beds-aftercare-navigators-and-a-recovery-campus-in-FY2026-plan","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6351828-61379397d45c461f0ae6193ad86eaca4/orig.mp4?Expires=1775348530&Signature=Jx~3efmvaGAA3InIoZ6Xqunrj-fYTOenKjCjAL9r7EYylltufY0Yi-SzJGUMw29obgoqWQz8dpB7w35WmKNxjILyp3Md5~w2EEdg0EJ7HMKoe~m--bD1ItZ9LJQumQ3PJ0cmBB7sJXGsfHp27VODKCdVY0V6kzm3nQGc4ObZwdL8yFGEQ1lRiMud6p0MfG-SsfE0RXj-Nya6zZulqUAnunVOzrzuJHrXgoWrLl2Hdzgw8Y44DOfsBQBe~1NVYlmgr~aeKvlWmKWodmCIIEdvp63cx6RL0qO2xMKDBmMlkFPehVumrQoG9kzGtYQj8Zq9MLpUBKX7VSZ70f~qhYZkrQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","","date","2025-02-05T18:00:02Z","article","Deputy Commissioner Daugherty presented three new substance-use initiatives included in the department's FY2026 recommendation: reengagement (stabilization) beds, aftercare navigators, and a pilot recovery campus.

Daugherty said the department proposes $1,000,000 for reengagement/stabilization beds. She described two uses: short-term stabilization for residents who must temporarily leave recovery housing, and temporary placement for people leaving residential treatment while they await openings in recovery housing. On the likely scale, she said the beds would be based at existing residential treatment providers and could flex with demand.

The department also proposed funding for aftercare navigators embedded at three major residential treatment programs. Daugherty explained these positions would help individuals operationalize discharge plans and access follow-up care so \"people aren't falling through the cracks\" during transitions between levels of care.

The third proposed initiative is a recovery campus pilot, combining recovery housing, treatment services, employment supports and life-skills training. The department proposed 15 beds for the recovery campus, with $500,000 in one-time startup funding and $1,000,000 for ongoing operations.

Commissioners and legislators asked whether similar stabilization funding had been appropriated in FY2025; a representative stated a prior $1,000,000 one-time appropriation was expected but department staff said they would confirm whether the appropriation had been enacted as anticipated. Daugherty said the department used an RFI process that recently closed and that an RFP would follow to find community partners for the recovery campus.

In the broader substance-use budget discussion, Daley and Levine described two related funding shifts: the governor's proposal moves substance misuse prevention funding from a $3,000,000 general fund appropriation to a new substance misuse prevention special fund (seeded by cannabis excise revenue) with a recommended $6,750,000 appropriation, and the department recommended $2,800,000 in new funding for treatment and recovery.

The presentation also covered opioid-abatement special fund activity. Daley said previously appropriated opioid-abatement-funded items have often been one-time allocations; the administration recommended continued funding this year for syringe service program grants provided that funds remain available. Daley said the administration will deliver recommended appropriations from the opioid abatement special fund to the legislature as a separate bill.

Ending: Members asked follow-up questions on provider reimbursement, how stabilization beds would be funded (per-use reimbursements), and timing for RFPs; the department pledged to provide the committee additional documentation and to confirm prior-year appropriation status.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","House Appropriations - 2025-02-05 - 1:00PM","oneSentenceSummary","Deputy Commissioner Daugherty presented three new substance-use initiatives included in the department's FY2026 recommendation: reengagement/stabilization beds, aftercare navigators, and a pilot recovery campus.","taxTitle","Appropriations, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Committees, Legislative , Vermont","taxId",30573,"location","Vermont","headline","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":56,"_74":56},6351833,"Health Department details vaccine purchasing program, coverage limits and funding sources",452,2268650,2720750,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2226471-362be18b414b6f20d988323efa671230&start=2268&end=2720","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2226471-362be18b414b6f20d988323efa671230/thumbnail_2268650.jpg","/articles/6351833/Vermont/Health-Department-details-vaccine-purchasing-program-coverage-limits-and-funding-sources","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6351833-a085c3375653241185e4f9d854af4162/orig.mp4?Expires=1775348530&Signature=ZR6XEHnDU64fnEZ-rk2l9NIve9NwZPHCsdjSyMveTb3xcVMNfiGlX3QOZYzaXj4YkuF~kYlD0vhA0nyc5eKoJ9n1LbrvfzDotxj0lh8H7C~c6klf-mXRsBl4aUOKUcvlq0IxWpRgZAsdahhgDH~xOxj2lI-JrwSfzynFHD2XVIsjcS8Rl~UkMDJMMjp24rNe14irQ7JV0-LGYTypn9N8st6laUW0PM0dzbQw2eVp3liiW0LCaEQQfQ2Q8~2lhnrePBcyJ4j4OD8AXFMVBicVFZ0t82ys0Rvmdn7XQvM4h8Obj33DOO7OsaWiiKKsOkA980DF8orqWBvESI8Loi84lw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Commissioner Mark Levine and Financial Director Paul Daley described the Vermont Vaccine Purchasing Program to the Appropriations Committee, calling it a longtime state program that purchases vaccines through a federal contract and supplies them to providers at no charge for children and many adults under age 65.

Daley said the program allows the state to buy vaccines at federal contract rates and that it is funded in part by assessments on insurers covering Vermont lives and by the state's immunization special fund. He said the program contributes to high immunization rates: \"If you look at the 2023–2024 school year, 94 percent of Vermont's K through 12 students were fully immunized in that year.\"

Committee members pressed staff on federal help and vaccine coverage for older adults. Daley said the program receives federal immunization grants that pay most program staff and in-kind support through the Vaccines for Children program. He explained that the state program does not provide vaccine at no charge for adults 65 and older; those vaccines are billed to Medicare in standard practice.

Daley provided figures for the vaccine program budget lines that the committee identified during questioning. He said the total vaccine program amount is about $15,700,000 in the budget materials and explained increases related to adding shingles and COVID vaccines for adult Medicaid coverage.

A member asked whether Medicare participates in purchasing through the state program; Daley said Medicare has historically declined to participate as a covered insurer, and states continue to discuss broader coverage with federal authorities.

Ending: Committee members asked for continued detail on the program's exposure and the department said it would provide follow-up information as requested.","Officials detailed the Vermont Vaccine Purchasing Program, its funding through insurer assessments and special funds, the program's role in high K–12 vaccination rates, and limitations for adults 65+ and Medicare coverage.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":91,"_47":92,"_49":93,"_51":94,"_53":95,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":96,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":97,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":56,"_74":56},6351838,"Health Department outlines $226 million budget, highlights federal funding share and staffing trends",0,26989,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2226471-362be18b414b6f20d988323efa671230&start=26&end=26","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2226471-362be18b414b6f20d988323efa671230/thumbnail_26989.jpg","/articles/6351838/Vermont/Health-Department-outlines-226-million-budget-highlights-federal-funding-share-and-staffing-trends","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6351838-00d05abed34b121cf28cb9f1a429e85a/orig.mp4?Expires=1775348530&Signature=eVooG~BZ49cLPAYBju1HQkGhmcueQSsUDM-CFIvvj47fu8j~EuozzlrM2-ghLZWObZr~pk8UBK9NBg7JKwD~Eun8JXalozoJoVP-or5NCtD6EaymY990jHU5-ypSTwqQASE4KkqaFpRa2TXe3RP5V1ox-uLl3Y9w6XPd6sw1Ja0XJjhQoOOyHK4efzimlnCMiUqaKvXDiZAypINWsqipKmI3pA-tiFQw79DJ83zmq2sNZ3iaJUHADI2IhSh980CncVid76raKctgyxEJaT9UrWTOcnGp5Eg3~zw9jtRohBpki8z~NlbeOADedor~Qppr9o-USstRteSkP6MgS4zrCw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Commissioner of Health Mark Levine told the Appropriations Committee that the Department of Health's total FY2026 budget request is about $226,000,000, an $11,000,000 increase from FY2025 and a 5.2% rise overall.

Levine said the department's work is organized into three appropriations: administration and support, public health, and substance use. He described the department's mission and said equity is a leading value in program design: \"our leading value is equity, and you'll hear a little more about that,\" he said.

Financial director Paul Daley told members how the department's funding is structured, emphasizing the large share of federal funds and the state's \"Global Commitment\" Medicaid-related funding. Daley said the department directly collects about 70% of its special fund appropriations from licensing and fees, and that the Vermont Vaccine Purchasing Program is funded in part through insurer assessments.

Daley described internal budget shifts tied to a move from Cherry Street to the Waterbury State Office Complex. He said rent payments declined for the central office, producing net state-fund savings of several hundred thousand dollars, though some district office relocations produced higher local costs.

On staffing, Daley said the department assumes a 3% vacancy rate in the FY2026 base budget, down from pandemic-era highs that reached about 11% at the peak. \"Our vacancy rate has been trending downward in the last 2 fiscal years,\" he said, adding the department now sees higher retention.

Levine and Daley also summarized divisions and program areas to give committee members context for the budget lines, noting environmental health, family and child health, laboratory and infectious disease, chronic disease prevention, emergency preparedness and data/vital records as examples of the department's portfolio.

The presentation included procedural guidance: Daley said the opioid abatement special fund recommended spending plan will be handled as a separate bill and considered first by the committees of jurisdiction before coming to Appropriations.

Looking ahead, Levine said the department proposes $6,500,000 in new activity funding across appropriations and flagged several targeted increases that the committee will review during line-item discussion.

Members asked questions about occupancy charges, special funds, and whether the base budget included prior one-time appropriations. Daley and Levine indicated they would follow up with details where the committee requested more specifics.

Ending: The department will return with line-item detail in subsequent hearings and with the separate spending-plan bill for opioid-abatement funds as described by administration staff.","Department of Health Commissioner Mark Levine presented the agency's FY2026 budget preview to the Appropriations Committee, describing a $226 million total budget (a 5.2% increase), the three appropriations structure, federal funding dominance, vacancy trends and occupancy/rent shifts after an office move.","actionData","errors"]

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Health Department proposes stabilization beds, aftercare navigators and a recovery campus in FY2026 plan

Health Department details vaccine purchasing program, coverage limits and funding sources

Health Department outlines $226 million budget, highlights federal funding share and staffing trends