Budget: health and human services

The budget proposal would reduce Medicaid provider rates to save $76 million. The budget would also:

* Cut funding for community support services in the Division of Medical Assistance by $65 million.

* Reduce funding for the Smart Start early childhood program by $16 million.

* Eliminate 350 positions within the Division of Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities and Substance Abuse Services to save $12.9 million.

* Cut funding to local mental health services providers by $3 million.

* Reduce funds by $8.5 million for services that are not core to the mental health division.

* Reduce state funding for services provided through local providers by $40 million.

More after the jump.

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* Increase the fee for vital records from $15 to $24 per copy. The change allows the vital records operation to support itself saving the state $1.2 million.

* Eliminate the inflationary increase in the premium cost for Health Choice, the state's health insurance program for poor children to save $7.1 million.

* Increase co-payments for prescriptions and emergency room visits for certain Health Choice families.

* Reduce funding meant to help counties administer public assistance programs by $5.5 million.