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Single Payer:The most fiscally conservative way to cover all Vermonters |
Senator Sanders Town Meeting Schedule
Join Senator Santers at one of his many stops in Southern Vermont this weekend. Show him we are committed to advancing a single payer system in Vermont and learn about other issues he is working on. For a full listing of times and locations visit our event calendar.
Health Care Reform Commission Chooses Dr. Hsiao
By unanimous vote the Commission chose Dr. Hsiao and his team to design our three or more choices for a universal health care system. This is great news for Vermont and we couldn't be more excited!
Dr. Hsiao has Developed Systems that Lower Costs
By: Dr. Deb Richter, Montpelier
Dear Mr. Hester:
Thank you for the opportunity to comment. The process to select experts to design three versions of a health care system for all of Vermont has been exceptionally open and accessible and is most appreciated.
I support Dr William Hsiao and his team to do the system design work.
First of all, his team meets all of the criteria spelled out in the RFP. I am sure you have his CV so I do not need to list all of his accomplishments in designing systems throughout the world - some single payer and some multi-payer. I am sure you are also aware that Professor Hsiao has written several books on designing health care systems, the most recent due out this August. His experience in designing real-world health systems could not be clearer.
The requirements (RFP) demand that whoever is selected must have experience in designing systems that have expanded coverage and contained costs. There is an important distinction between overall costs of a system itself and program costs within a system. Vermont has had programs designed to extend coverage to groups within a system. Some of these programs have lowered, or have promised to lower, costs to payers within a system. But none has translated into lower costs for the system itself. Dr. Hsiao, however, achieved exactly this when, for example, he designed Taiwan's health care system.
Another very good reason for supporting Dr. Hsiao over other candidates (none of which has actually designed a system, only programs) is the inclusion of Steve Kappel. Kappel lives and works in Vermont. His depth of knowledge about Vermont's health care data needed for any design has few if any equals.
Once again, thank you for allowing Vermonters the opportunity to participate in the process.
Sincerely, Deborah Richter, MD
Does Leddy's Appointment Conform to the Law?
By: James Marc Leas, South Burlington Dear Attorney General Sorrell: I request reconsideration of the decision provided in the letter by Bill Griffin concerning the appointment of Jim Leddy to the commission on health care reform. Although Bill Griffin's statement that AARP is not itself an insurer is correct, for Jim Leddy, the AARP's Vermont President, to serve on the commission would still be a violation of several sections of the law. First, I agree with Bill Griffin that Jim Leddy...
Concerns with Interpretation of S.88
By: Jerry Kilcourse, Montpelier Dear Ms. Swanson, Please forward this email to Chief Assistant Attorney General William Griffin as I have several questions regarding his interpretation of S.88 concerning the appointment of Jim Leddy to the commission on health care reform. As AARP acts as an insurance broker for United Health, Aetna etc. with its members regarding so called Medi Gap policies (supplemental)and others and receives hundreds of millions in shared premiums or as AARP calls t...
Appointment Raises Ethical Concerns
By, Jonathan L Weker, Montpelier James Leddy’s nomination to the new Health Care Reform Commission raises ethical concerns of such magnitude as to make his appointment objectionable, if not illegal. Mr. Leddy, the Commission, and the people of Vermont should not permit it to proceed in its present form. James Leddy has performed valuable public service for the people of Vermont, first as director of the Howard Center for Human Services and then as a senator from Chittenden County. I have h...
Commission Appointment Violates Law
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 supp...