News

 VT Digger By: MORGAN TRUE It happened on several occasions throughout the legislative session, first with the budget and then with a health care reform bill. House Republicans tried, but were unable, to put a deadline in statute for Gov. Peter Shumlin to deliver a financing plan for Green Mountain Care, Vermont’s planned universal health […]

Vermont DiggerBy: Morgan TrueDemocratic leadership has found a way to resurrect a health care reform bill that earlier in the week looked as though it was on life-support. In its new form, S.252, a bill that originally set deadlines for the development of financing plans for Green Mountain Care, now includes no scheduled date requirement […]

 Vermont Digger By: MORGAN TRUE After gathering testimony from dozens of witnesses and spending hours crafting a bill in several committees starting in January, the Legislature’s primary piece of health care legislation this session is likely going nowhere. Sen. Tim Ashe, D/P-Chittenden, is chair of the Senate Committee on Finance. Photo by Roger Crowley/for VTDiggerSen. Tim […]

 Vermont Digger Lots of buzzing in political circles the past week or so, regarding the possible existence of a Plan B on health care reform. A mysterious Plan… from beyond the limits of our galaxy… threatening the American Way of Life™ with its hideously alien ideas… Who Can Stop This Menace From The Stars?… Er. […]

 Vermont Digger Press reports about a supposed “Plan B” that would replace Gov. Peter Shumlin’s universal health care proposal has stirred controversy again this week in the Statehouse. But a memo from a legislative consultant outlining a watered down version of single-payer doesn’t appear to have backing from lawmakers – or at least not publicly. […]

 CBC News   Faster increases in spending for lower-income households may result in ‘inequities,’ StatsCan says CBC News Posted: Apr 16, 2014 10:26 AM ET Last Updated: Apr 16, 2014 10:44 PM ET Report highlights dental surgery rate in kids 2:15   Related Stories Unfilled Prescriptions, Dr. Brian Goldman Private health insurance in Canada deemed inefficient Treating poverty […]

 Vermont Public Radio By JOHN DILLONGov. Peter Shumlin is dismissing a legislative consultant’s plan that lawmakers could use as an alternative to the administration’s single-payer health proposal. The concept memo was drafted for the Legislature by health care economist Ken Thorpe. His plan was conceived as an alternative to single-payer, and would extend health coverage […]

 Vermont Digger A new legislative proposal would freeze the funding for the Shumlin administration’s transition to a universal health care program if officials don’t present lawmakers with public financing details by February 2015. “The clock is running out. They have got to deliver us a plan by that time if (the program) is going to […]

This article is not directly connected to Vermont creating a single payer health care plan but one aspect of single payer is controling costs. Vermont Digger   The amendment, submitted by committee chairman Rep. Mike Fisher, D-Lincoln, would require pharmacy benefit managers to report the percentage or dollar amount they pocket on each claim charged […]

  Vermont Digger   Doug Hoffer The Vermont state auditor plans to look into how money was spent on Vermont Health Connect. Auditor Doug Hoffer said he will conduct a performance audit of the state-run online insurance marketplace, perhaps later this year. He has not determined what the scope of the audit will be. The […]