Health budget committee reviews BAA health requests, flags Medicaid "consensus" and workforce needs

Committee members reviewed a draft summary of Budget Adjustment Act (BAA) health requests and spent most of the meeting clarifying what the line items mean and which items require committee input.

Daria Ventura, identifying herself as “a public health nurse and parent,” said she is working with the University of Vermont School of Nursing to give student nurses exposure to policy work: “I’m working with the University of Vermont School of Nursing in supporting a public health rotation.” Tammy Green, who introduced herself as “an assistant professor over at UVM” covering the public health practicum, said the students will be able to observe and write about bills and committee work during their rotation.

The committee reviewed several categories of requests in a color‑coded draft document staff had posted. Members asked for clarification about a negative $1.9 million line in the…