VTMHCA Board Meeting Minutes

May 8, 2009

Present: Heather Pierce, Don Rhodes, Shawn Thompson-Snow, Caryn Fienberg, Barbara Nielson, Scott Earisman

Review minutes from last meeting: Approved--Heather to send to Darlene to post on website

Treasurer: Passed out income and expense for 3-1 thru 5-8-09. Don, Heather request Barbara create budget--Item of budget creation to be on agenda for 1st meeting next fiscal year.

Mental Health Awareness Day--Only person willing to do screening was Bet M., and he was rained out. Issue to be discussed at Annual Meeting

Bonus to Pam--Decided to give $500.00 at annual meeting, with Don noting that she continues to work very hard for us. We will also ask her for a monthly written update for the next year, to be finalized at first meeting post annual meeting.

Job descriptions--Barbara reports finding that we already have written job descriptions, so Heather will collect and review.

Magellan/Cigna Fines--Both insurers were fined $20,000 for failure to adequately maintain provider lists. Fine was levied by BISHCA, and Magellan/Cigna given 60 days to resolve.

Magellan has also, in part due to meetings with VTMHCA reps, S114 meetings and legislative meetings, changed policy so that first 10 MH/SA sessions do not require authorization when provided by in-network therapist. This excludes Fed. BCBS policies. Existing clients will have 10 sessions added to existing auths.

Legislative report: Given by Don. Reports that Deb Markowitz was guest of the Legislative Committee 0n 5-7-09. Don reports that she seems to really want our input in healthcare issues. Don also reports that LCAR ( a legislative committee consisting of both House and Senate members) is reviewing the BISHCA rules for Act 142, to see if they are consistent with the intent of Act 142. Issues include restrictive and bundled coding. The legislative committee will review and make recommendations to LCAR over the summer.

Don also reports that the likelihood is that there will be a 2 % cut in Medicaid reimbursement rates for mental health providers, discussed the integrated care aspects of the VT Blueprint for Health, and that Part 2 of the Provider reimbursement report is available. He will give details at the annual meeting.

Caryn reports that she and Kraye are much better able to coordinate data now, with the new software. The data base is fully updated.

Also, conference brochures have been mailed out.

Therapists have been notified by the Secty. of State's office that any supervisees not licensed still need to be rostered at that office. Supervising unrostered therapists can result in sanctions.

Annual meeting plans:

Pam will speak at 1:30 with an update of her lobbying activities, as well as being presented with her appreciation bonus. This will be followed by committee reports, and then elections. Heather is preparing a rough ballot. The members present discussed options for finding a president-elect.

Finally, the website was discussed, and it was decided to publish advertising rates online.

Following the annual meeting on 6-12-09, the next board meeting will be on Sept. 11 at 9:30-11:30, same place. (Heathers office.)

Respectfully submitted, and open to feedback,

Scott Earisman