Editorials

  VTDigger Primary Care is the foundational to Vermont’s all payer model. Yet, in the middle of a pandemic with primary care practices struggling to survive, OneCare Vermont has chosen to reduce payments to these practices. OneCare is Vermont’s sole accountable care organization and as such exercises influence over the system. OneCare recently decided to […]

  VTDigger Editor’s note: This commentary is by Vicki Harrison MSN of Barnard, retired from 45 years in social work and community health nursing, with a subspecialty in mental health and substance abuse. Believe it or not, “social determinants of health” have been a main study of social work and community health nursing for 100+ […]

  VTDigger Editor’s note: This commentary is by Patrick Flood, the former commissioner of the Department of Mental Health, the Department of Disabilities, Aging and Independent Living and former deputy secretary of the Agency of Human Services. He is now retired and lives in East Calais. Finally. Thanks to Auditor Doug Hoffer, the people of […]

  Valley News No one can deny we are in a health care crisis, and no flyovers or banners can adequately thank the front-line workers in our hospitals and caretakers at home right now. What would express our gratitude is crafting and supporting universal health care, such as “Medicare for All.” So, while we wait […]

  VTDigger Opponents of Medicare for All like to scare people by warning about a “government takeover” of health care.  Let’s get serious: American health care was taken over long ago by insurance companies and other commercial interests. We need to take health care back from them. What does that mean exactly? Start with the […]

  Rutland Herald Future health care premium increases will likely trigger educational excess spending threshold penalty. As many of us are painfully and often personally aware, the cost of health care premium increases has been in the double digits during the past several years and there is no end in sight. What many Vermonters might […]

  POLITICO By Senator Bernie Sanders As the coronavirus continues to spread, and the United States climbs closer to 1 million cases and nearly 60,000 deaths, we face an unprecedented economic and health care crisis that demands an unprecedented response. While we work toward an economic solution that keeps people on the payroll, Washington is also […]

VTDigger Editor’s note: This commentary is by Richard Slusky, of South Burlington, who was the CEO of Mt. Ascutney Hospital and Health Center in Windsor from 1982 to 2010, after which was director of payment reform for the Green Mountain Care Board until 2016. He is now the owner of Slusky Consulting. The coronavirus pandemic has […]

  Bennington Banner  By Avery Book, Dear Governor Scott, We are poor and working-class Vermont residents who are struggling amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. Many of us have lost our jobs, while others are forced to work as essential workers, putting our lives on the line to serve our communities and earn a living. It is […]

  VTDigger Editor’s note: This commentary is by Richard Davis, of Guilford, who has been active in health care reform for 30 years. Semi-retired after a 40-year nursing career, he volunteers at the Brattleboro Walk In Clinic counseling people on insurance options.  Everyone treating Covid-19 patients is risking their lives. Doctors, nurses, respiratory, physical and […]