Mon, 03/01/2021 - 9:27am tim
by Devon Green, VAHHS Vice President of Government Relations Last week The House advanced H315, a $62 million mini-coronavirus relief fund (CRF) bill with the following:
State COVID Relief Bill:
$500,000 to address health care disparities by enhancing data collection
$350,000 each to the Association of Africans Living in Vermont (AALV) and VT Refugee Resettlement Program (USCRI)
The House Appropriations Committee did not include the House Health Care Committee’s request of $5 million in funding to expand the health care workforce, including $3 million in nurse and physician scholarships. This will likely go into the FY’22 budget.
Interstate Nurse Compact: The Senate Health and Welfare Committee advanced S.48, a bill that would allow Vermont to enter the Interstate Nurse Compact. VAHHS supports efforts to streamline licensing for nurses as a means of strengthening Vermont’s workforce.