By: Dr. Deb Richter, Vermont Health Care for All
This week two new members were appointed to the Health Care Commission. This is the first action called for in S.88. This new commission meets in June to select the consultant/s to design three health care systems for Vermont. It is imperative we have an unbiased Commission if the public is to have trust in this selection process and for the end result to be unbiased.
Senate Pro Temp, Peter Shumlin, appointed Con Hogan, whom we support and think will be a great asset to the commission.
House Speaker, Shap Smith, appointed Jim Leddy who currently serves as President of Vermont AARP. While we applaud Mr. Leddy’s service to our state, we oppose this appointment. It violates the conditions the law. S.88 clearly states the members cannot have “any official relation to any health care provider or insurer.” AARP is a health insurance broker and derives most of it’s income from that activity. (For more information on the relationship between AARP and the insurance industry please visit our Homepage.) Speaker Smith’s response in the Burlington FreePress,”Anybody who knows Jim Leddy knows he marches to his own drummer, I have no concerns he will be beholden to anyone” shows a disrespect for the law as written.
Vermont Health Care for All has filed a formal complaint with Attorney General Sorrell stating, “Speaker Shap Smith’s appointment of Mr. Jim Leddy as a member of the Health Care Commission that is overseeing the implementation of S88-Act 128, as it is an infraction of this state statute. This appointment clearly defies the intent of the bill which was to avoid undue influence by the insurance industry and other special interests on the process of designing three health care systems for Vermont.”
Over the weekend almost 100 messages requesting the appointment of Mr. Leddy be rescinded were sent to members of the Health Care Commission. Click here to send your own message.
In order for health care reform to be successful this must be rectified so the public can trust in the process and know the intent of the bill is being fulfilled.