Vermont Health Department proposes cuts to tuition-assistance, AHEC grants and a pilot drug repository amid AHS shortfall

Rick Hilderbrand, the commissioner of the Department of Health, told a joint legislative hearing the Agency of Human Services faces roughly a $75,000,000 shortfall and presented a department budget that would be $221,000,000 for the coming year with a 1.2% net decrease from the prior year.

Hilderbrand said the department’s recommended package includes programmatic reductions and internal reorganizations intended to limit service impacts across AHS. The proposal would end the state-funded health professional educational assistance program administered through the University of Vermont/VSAC, discontinue a global-commitment grant that provides operating support to the State Area Health Education Centers (AHEC) (about $500,000) and eliminate a $50,000 annual AHEC recruitment grant. Officials also recommended discontinuing the state’s unused prescription drug repository pilot after the department received no viable bids to an RFP and…