News-Record.com

Update: Tomorrow's story is now online.

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

The presser by mental health groups on recent cuts to the reimbursement rate for community support services came on what was a busy day for a Thursday at the General Assembly.

It also came as DHHS was saying those cuts would be temporary, which was boon to advocates.

A few hours later, House Speaker Joe Hackney held a news conference and said this:

"One of the things I do before I go into a news conference is I look to see what my latest e-mails are. And one of them said that reduced rate was only in effect until next Friday and that a new rate was to be calculated and set. So I really think the action that the executive branch took on that was intended as a warning shot and a warning not to be gaming the system so to speak and I think there will be an adjustment."

Hackney fielded a couple mental health related questions and you can click here to listen to his full take on both of them.

My colleague Amy Dominello is working on a full report for tomorrow's paper. In the mean time, here's a picture from the press conference:

(Click to enlarge.)