FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
APRIL 7, 2010
CONTACT:
ALEXANDRA MACLEAN
(802) 828-2806
SENATE PASSES SECOND READING OF BILL TO REDESIGN VERMONT’S HEALTH CARE SYSTEM
Montpelier, Vt – The Senate today passed through second reading, S.88, “An Act Relating to Health Care Financing and Universal Access to Health Care in Vermont.” The passage of this legislation is the first step towards a system where all Vermonters have access to high quality,affordable health care.
“This bill is about jobs,” said Senate President Pro Tem Peter Shumlin. “It is time to take the soaring cost of health care off the backs of our businesses. This bill will do just that by designing a health care system where health insurance will follow the individual and not the employer.”
S. 88 directs the Health Care Reform Commission, with additional members appointed by the Speaker of the House and the President Pro Tem of the Senate, to design a new health care system for Vermont. The system will contain costs and provide universal access to and coverage of health care services for all Vermonters.
“Vermont families and businesses can no longer afford our broken health care system, with its escalating costs and obstacles to coverage,” said Senator Shumlin. “It is time for Vermont to make a commitment to move towards a system where all Vermonters have access to high quality, affordable health care. I am thrilled that we have successfully begun this process.”
The bill passed with overwhelming, bipartisan support with a 28-2 vote.Third reading of the bill will be taken up tomorrow.
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It’s about time. Now we have to get it through the house. Unfortunately, that could take much more doing. But thanks so much to Senator Shumlin for all that he did to make what happened yesterday possible. He chimed in at key times during the debate which took the wind out of the opposition.
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And lets not forget Senator Doug Racine, author of the bill. Though I firmly believe any health care plan that allows for profit and even “not for profit” insurance companies to rule access to care will continue sky rocketing costs. Insurance companies deny a large percentage of the claims received, in hopes (often realized) that providers and patients will tire of fighting to get their money. And even when these companies pay, they’ve held on to the funds much longer through this “deny most” policy. As long as providers need specialized teams to get claims paid and patients can’t afford the initial outlay because no provider will bill the insurance for them, health care will continue to provide huge profits for insurance companies and drug companies, docs will struggle to pay student loans, malpractice premiums and billing staff and patients without the savvy to advocate for themselves will lose. Lets not have Vermont go the way of California and Connecticut, where patients must pay large “retainers” for the privilege of docs taking them as patients.
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Its about time!!!!! We dont need to study how to do single payer healthcare we need to just do it. It need to include long term community-based care so that every one can live in the community. adopt payroll tax to par for it.