news

"[I]n addition to the mundane work of legal bookkeeping, lawmakers will consider scores of bills this year that could have a real impact on the lives of the Vermonters they represent..."

You can apply now to get help with your electricity costs if:

• you are a Green Mountain Power customer and

by Andrew Stein, VTDigger energy and health care reporter

"Eighty-one property owners in the state who were especially hard hit by Irene remain in a sort of financial limbo. They were the first accepted into FEMA's hazard mitigation buyout program - but they are all still waiting for the money.

Important Change to Medicare Coverage for Skilled Maintenance Services 

A recent national class action lawsuit challenged Medicare’s use of an improper “improvement standard” to deny coverage to people who may not improve, but whose conditions may deteriorate without skilled maintenance services. 

"The Financial Assistance for Respite Rule has a benign-sounding name, but it’s causing concern among those caring for children with special health needs.

"That’s because the rule actually eliminates the comprehensive cost-sharing program for caregivers.

"The two-page rule nixes the $700,000 payor-of-last-resort program, which is about 80 percent of the Children with Special Health Needs budget. It places the burden of paying deductibles, co-pays, and other costs back on families...."

 Health insurance rate review doesn’t sound very exciting, but it could have a big impact on your wallet. Vermont's rate review program – one of the best in the country – allows both regulators and consumers to comment on rising insurance costs before they go up.

Check out this website for  information about housing, health, money, debt, benefits, coupons and more!

www.thebeehive.org

"Despite a 35 percent jump in the number of Vermont schools accurately reporting the after-high school plans of disabled students, more improvement is needed, according to a new rating released by the federal office that tracks state special education reporting.

Tags:

• news