Department of Mental Health expands alternatives to emergency departments; seeks sustainable funding as pilot grants expire

Department of Mental Health officials told the House Appropriations Committee on Feb. 5 that Vermont has a patchwork of "alternatives to emergency departments" (sometimes called mental health urgent cares) and that the state is working to expand and align those programs with 988 and enhanced mobile crisis services as current grant funding expires.

"Alternatives to emergency departments is a critical piece of what is needed in our community," Deputy Commissioner Samantha Swee said, emphasizing that these programs let people seek crisis screening and supports in a community setting rather than at a hospital emergency room.

Why it matters: Department witnesses told the committee these alternatives can shorten the time to connect people with a designated agency and provide more therapeutic spaces than emergency rooms. Funding that currently supports many programs flows from HCBS FMAP dollars; that grant funding ends in March 2026. The department said it is requesting roughly $800,000 for the last quarter of FY2026…