Vermont health care reform

In 2011, the state government enacted a law establishing the first state-level single-payer health care system in the United States; in comparison, the neighboring state of Massachusetts has, since 2006, established a health insurance mandate and provides free health care insurance for lower-income residents. However, it may not enter into force of law until at least 2017, unless the state government can obtain a waiver from the federal government.

Political support

The legislature of Vermont, including both the Democratic and Progressive Party, endorses single payer health care. Governor Peter Shumlin supports this move.

Planning

In 2010, the State Legislature hired William Hsiao, the designer of Taiwan's single payer health care system, to design three possible systems of universal health care, one being a single payer model. On January 19, 2011, two weeks after Shumlin took office as governor, Hsiao presented the three options:

1. a "uniform benefits package"; it would produce "savings of 24.3% of total health expenditure between 2015 and 2024"
2. a "state government-administered, public option that would allow Vermonters to choose between public and private insurance coverage;" it would "produce savings of 16.1% of total health expenditure between 2015 and 2024."
3. a "public/private single-payer system" which would provide an "'essential' benefits package", would be "administered by an independent board with diverse representation," and would employ "a competitively-selected third party to manage provider relations and claims adjudication and processing"; it would "produce savings of 25.3% of total health expenditure between 2015 and 2024."

Hsiao opined that Option 3 would provide greater savings because of its nature as "a public/private partnership in governance and administration," as well as the likelihood of its ability to "incorporate a uniform benefits package and reduce much of the administrative structure needed to compensate multiple payers."

Green Mountain Care

The Vermont health bill, H.202, has led to the creation of Green Mountain Care, a private/public single payer exchange system that will give universal coverage to Vermonters and create an electronic system of medical records in an effort to make the system efficient and accessible. In April 2011, it passed the Vermont Senate. In May 2011, the governor signed it into law, making Vermont the first state to have a single payer health care system.

The move was welcomed by liberal and progressive politicians and activists throughout the United States, including those who had advocated for the United States National Health Care Act of 2010. However, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act prevents the Green Mountain Care law from going into effect in Vermont until 2017; the state government is currently requesting for a "waiver for state innovation" from the federal government.

External links

• Vermont's Health Care Reform Portal
• Green Mountain Care