Vermont Legislature Passes Bill To Set Up Universal Health Care
On Thursday, the Vermont House voted 94-49 to approve a bill that would create a single-payer health care system called Green Mountain Care, AP/Modern Healthcare reports (AP/Modern Healthcare, 5/5).
The bill would:
- Create a state health insurance exchange as required under the federal health reform law;
- Establish a publicly financed single-payer system; and
- Allow enrollees to buy supplemental private insurance policies.
The legislation will help provide coverage for the estimated 47,000 state residents who are uninsured. The bill does not indicate how the exchange will be funded; future legislation must address that issue (Adams, CQ HealthBeat, 5/5).
The state Senate approved the measure last week. Both chambers of the Legislature had approved earlier versions of the bill, but lawmakers had to hold more votes after a conference committee reconciled differences in the legislation.
Gov. Peter Shumlin (D) has indicated that he will sign the bill (Lowes, Medscape, 5/5).
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