A health-care advocacy group is taking issue with one of two appointments made Friday to the state’s Health Care Reform Commission.
The group Vermont Health Care for All argued Saturday that the appointment of former state Sen. Jim Leddy of Burlington violates the law passed this year that expanded the number of commission members.
The law specifies that members not be connected to a health-care provider or insurer. Leddy is president of AARP Vermont. Dr. Deb Richter, chairwoman of Health Care for All, argued that the national AARP group is heavily involved in and makes a considerable amount of its money selling health insurance policies.
Richter said her group wants House Speaker Shap Smith, who appointed Leddy to the commission, to rescind the move and make a new appointment.
Smith said he stands by the appointment. "Anybody who knows Jim Leddy knows he marches to his own drummer," Smith said. "I have no concerns he will be beholden to anyone."
Leddy served as chairman of the Senate Health & Welfare Committee when the Legislature created the state’s Catamount Health Plan that offers insurance coverage to Vermonters who otherwise lack it.