A private Vermont psychiatric hospital that is facing the loss of its federal funding, has cleared a big step toward meeting the concerns of inspectors from the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.
CMS has accepted a plan by the Brattleboro Retreat that clears the way for a surprise inspection from regulators before the end of next month.
If the retreat passes the inspection, the potential loss of federal funds will be lifted.
Retreat spokesman Peter Albert tells the Brattleboro Reformer the hospital is working to meet federal guidelines and train staff to care for the state's most acutely ill psychiatric patients.
After flooding from Tropical Storm Irene closed the Vermont State Hospital two years ago, the retreat has helped care for many former patients.
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