Vermont H 140: An act relating to the provision of grants for community nurses and community care coordinators working in collaboration with municipalities

Bill Text

BILL AS INTRODUCED H.140
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VT LEG #379748 v.1
H.140 1
Introduced by Representatives Holcombe of Norwich and Masland of Thetford 2
Referred to Committee on 3
Date: 4
Subject: Health; municipalities; community care coordinator; community 5
nurse 6
Statement of purpose of bill as introduced: This bill proposes to establish a 7
grant program to fund the provision of services by community nurses and 8
community care coordinators in collaboration with municipalities. 9
An act relating to the provision of grants for community nurses and 10
community care coordinators working in collaboration with municipalities 11
It is hereby enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Vermont: 12
Sec. 1. LEGISLATIVE INTENT 13
It is the intent of the General Assembly to improve health outcomes and to 14
prevent avoidable care and over utilization of institutional care, particularly 15
among heavy utilizers by expanding access in rural communities to community 16
nurses and community care coordinators, as recommended in the report 17
completed by the Green Mountain Care Board’s consultant in accordance with 18
2022 Acts and Resolves No. 167. 19

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VT LEG #379748 v.1
Sec. 2. 18 V.S.A. chapter 222 is amended to read: 1
Chapter 222. ACCESS TO HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONALS 2
§ 9490. COMMUNITY NURSE AND COMMUNITY CARE 3
COORDINATOR GRANT PROGRAM 4
(a) Grant program established. The Department of Health shall administer 5
a grant program for the purpose of establishing community nurse or 6
community care coordinator programs in Vermont communities. The 7
Commissioner shall award grants of up to $10,000.00 per municipality to fund 8
a community nurse or community care coordinator program in the 9
municipality, provided the municipal applicant meets the criteria set forth in 10
this section and rule. As used in this section, “municipality” means a city, 11
town, or incorporated village in the State. 12
(b) Grant eligibility. 13
(1) General criteria. A municipality may submit a grant application to 14
the Department each year during the period specified by the Department in 15
rule. Successful grant applicants shall: 16
(A) demonstrate that the municipality has a separate financial 17
account that shall be used solely for administering funds for the municipality’s 18
community nurse or community care coordinator program, or alternatively, 19
demonstrate that a qualifying nonprofit organization is available to receive and 20

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VT LEG #379748 v.1
administer the grant funding to pay for community nurse or community care 1
coordinator services; 2
(B) demonstrate that the municipality’s community nurse or 3
community care coordinator program structure has fiscal and organizational 4
transparency; 5
(C) provide documentation that the legislative body of the 6
municipality has approved the community nurse or community care 7
coordinator program; 8
(D) describe the proposed collaboration between the community 9
nurse or community care coordinator and the municipality, including the 10
community nurse or community coordinator’s anticipated duties, work hours, 11
and any specialized training necessary to provide services; 12
(E) describe the municipality’s plan for ongoing funding for the 13
community nurse or community care coordinator program once the 14
municipality is no longer eligible for grants under this section; and 15
(F) if applicable, describe any formal relationship between the 16
municipality and existing health care providers, including a federally qualified 17
health center. 18
(2) Joint applications. Two or more municipalities may submit a joint 19
application to support and extend shared services; however, each municipality 20
shall independently address the criteria in subdivision (1) of this subsection. 21

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(3) Limitations. 1
(A) Municipalities that currently have a community nurse or 2
community care coordinator may apply for grant funding to expand service; 3
however, municipal applicants seeking to establish new community nurse or 4
community care coordinator programs shall be given priority for grant funding. 5
(B) Applications to fund multiple community nurse or community 6
care coordinator positions within a municipality shall be considered to the 7
extent that the proposal reflects the municipality’s population and community 8
nurse service needs. 9
(C) A municipality shall be eligible for not more than five annual 10
grants. 11
(c) Awards granted. Awards granted by the Commissioner under this 12
section shall be provided directly to the applying municipality. 13
(d) Rulemaking. Pursuant to 3 V.S.A. chapter 25, the Commissioner shall 14
adopt rules necessary to administer the grant program established in this 15
section. The rules shall address: 16
(1) timelines for application and reapplication; 17
(2) application criteria; and 18
(3) procedures for review of gran