In the News
VT for Single Payer has compiled recent news articles and letters to the editor about Single Payer Health Care in Vermont. To view all the recent news stories click here. To view all the recent letters to the editor click here. To view all recent Editorials and Op-Eds click here.
Recent News Stories
Health Care Reform Passes in Vermont
May 02, 2012
WCAXMontpelier, VT. -- A happy exchange over the health care exchange-- lawmakers shook hands in congratulations Wednesday, as they passed one of the most controversial bills of the session out of conference committee."Everyone at this table signed the conference committee report and supports the bill going forward, everyone at this table and a majority of members of the House and Senate support the creation of the exchange," said Rep. Mike Fisher, D-Lincoln.The health care excha...
Senate gives final approval to health care exchange bill
April 25, 2012
VTDigger The Senate passed H.559, the health care exchange bill, Tuesday evening, 20-7. The legislation allows Vermont to take advantage of federal subsidies and tax credits associated with the federal Affordable Care Act. The Shumlin administration plans to use the exchange as a stepping stone toward financing a single-payer health care system. The bill requires individuals and employers with 50 or fewer workers to buy insurance through the exchange beginning in January 2014. Vermont is th...
Health Care Exchange Heads to Senate Floor
April 23, 2012
Rutland Herald By Peter Hirschfeld Vermont Press Bureau MONTPELIER — The Senate this week is on course to approve a health care bill that could soon change the way thousands of Vermonters purchase insurance. Sen. Claire Ayer, chairwoman of the Senate Committee on Health and Welfare, said Sunday that she expects a floor debate either today or Tuesday on legislation establishing the so-called “health benefits exchange.” Likened to a health insurance version of the Hotwire ...
Letters to the Editor
Propaganda and Anonymity
May 12, 2012
Rutland HeraldPropaganda is the strong point of those who oppose changing our expensive health care mess into a single-payer system. An example is Wednesday’s letter from Jeff Wennberg, spokesman for Vermonters for Health Care Freedom. His anonymous “Freedom” group won’t say who gives it money. Wennberg defends nondisclosure as necessary “to protect the hundreds of Vermont small businesses and health care providers who support us from bullying and economic blackmail...
Wennberg's shifting story
May 11, 2012
Times ArgusMr. Wennberg is telling a shifting story about health care.Mr. Wennberg, in a response to my earlier letter, now seems to be backing away from advocating insurance outside of H.559, Vermont’s implementation of the exchange. This is good. I am glad he now says, “For the exchange to serve its purpose, the state needs to set the standards and approve all plans offered there.” I heartily agree. I hope we hear no more from him about insurance “outside of the exchang...
Health Care Plan Untested?
May 09, 2012
Manchester JournalTo the Editor: You may not have seen it, but the folks at Vermonters for Health Care Freedom (VHCF) have made a pretty slick 8-minute video that they apparently sent to all our Vermont legislators.The crux is that our health care reform is too untested, too complicated, just beyond our abilities to institute. That's a pretty bizarre claim.Too untested? Really?Did VHCF simply miss the fact that the entire rest of the developed world has health care systems much closer to our new...
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Editorials and Op-Eds
And now, for the payment plan ...
May 13, 2012
Rutland HeraldNow the really hard work begins.The health care exchange legislation just passed was a small precursor to the next item of business in health care reform, scheduled for the 2013 session: financing of Green Mountain Care single-payer health care. Chief among the challenges will be how to pay for a universal coverage plan without overburdening small businesses. An employer payroll tax is often cited as a financing source because it would replace the $1.35 billion Vermont employers al...
Trying to Follow the Money
May 10, 2012
Times ArgusBy Dr. Marvin MalekI was surprised to read that Jeff Wennberg, executive director of Vermonters for Health Care Freedom, is encouraging readers to follow the money (April 29).The money Wennberg is referring to is federal money potentially available to Vermont to support the reform effort. He points out that the legislature’s actions have worked to maximize this federal support. Last time I checked most every state government tries to maximize federal support for health care, dis...
An important next step in health care reform
May 07, 2012
VTDiggerEditor’s note: This op-ed is by Robin Lunge, Vermont’s director of Health Care Reform.The Vermont House and Senate should be applauded for putting Vermonters first by passing H.559, the health insurance reform and exchange bill.Legislators voting in favor of the bill recognized the needs of Vermonters by ensuring that under the insurance coverage system of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), effective Jan. 1, 2014, Vermont small employers and individuals will truly have the opport...