Health Care Updates: The Latest on Catamount and SCHIP
Catamount Health
Last Thursday, VPIRG released its first scorecard rating the implementation of the Catamount Health plan. The report, Scoring Catamount Health: Examining Vermont’s Progress Toward an Equitable Health System, available [here], gave the Douglas Administration an overall grade of B, noting that the initial development and implementation of the program has been successful thus far.
The report evaluates the administration’s work in five areas: 1) the inclusiveness of the development and implementation process (in other words, the administration’s attempts to involve key stakeholders); 2) messaging and marketing; 3) timeliness and efficiency; 4) fiscal stability; and 5) regulation of private partners.
While the administration earned a high score overall, we did note a few concerns. First, as many no doubt remember, in April 2007 Gov. Douglas attempted to divert millions of dollars out of the Catamount Fund and into other investments. While he later withdrew this proposal, his actions cast some doubt on his commitment to the program.
Additionally, many Vermonters were expecting to have health care coverage through Catamount Health on October 1. In fact, legislators, advocates, and even members of the administration were under the impression that coverage would begin on that date. During the summer of 2007, it became apparent that others in the administration were working toward the October 1 deadline as the start of enrollment only, not the start of benefits. Ultimately, nothing could be done to rectify the situation and Catamount Health beneficiaries had to wait until November 1 to get their health care benefits.
It is only fair to note that the law states that “Catamount Health shall not be sold prior to October 1, 2007.” (8 VSA § 4080f(l)). Thus, the administration technically was not required to ensure that Vermonters had health care coverage as of that date. Nonetheless, the act establishing Catamount Health was signed into law on May 25, 2006. It wasn’t until June 4, 2007 that the confusion over the October 1 start date became apparent.
As noted above, despite a few setbacks, the administration has done a good job in implementing Catamount. Going forward, we hope that Gov. Douglas and others are able to build on this initial success and provide more Vermonters with access to quality, affordable health care.
SCHIP
In late October, the U.S. House of Representatives passed a second bill to reauthorize the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP). This was a compromise bill drafted in the wake of President Bush’s veto of the original SCHIP legislation. The Senate passed the compromise bill as well, but the House held off on sending it to the President, as he had once again promised a veto. The compromise bill was sent to the President on Nov. 30th and SCHIP is currently scheduled to sunset on December 14, 2007. Many are expecting that Congress will pass a long-term extension of the existing program after the President’s veto and return to the SCHIP debate next year.
We will keep you posted.
Last Thursday, VPIRG released its first scorecard rating the implementation of the Catamount Health plan. The report, Scoring Catamount Health: Examining Vermont’s Progress Toward an Equitable Health System, available [here], gave the Douglas Administration an overall grade of B, noting that the initial development and implementation of the program has been successful thus far.
The report evaluates the administration’s work in five areas: 1) the inclusiveness of the development and implementation process (in other words, the administration’s attempts to involve key stakeholders); 2) messaging and marketing; 3) timeliness and efficiency; 4) fiscal stability; and 5) regulation of private partners.
While the administration earned a high score overall, we did note a few concerns. First, as many no doubt remember, in April 2007 Gov. Douglas attempted to divert millions of dollars out of the Catamount Fund and into other investments. While he later withdrew this proposal, his actions cast some doubt on his commitment to the program.
Additionally, many Vermonters were expecting to have health care coverage through Catamount Health on October 1. In fact, legislators, advocates, and even members of the administration were under the impression that coverage would begin on that date. During the summer of 2007, it became apparent that others in the administration were working toward the October 1 deadline as the start of enrollment only, not the start of benefits. Ultimately, nothing could be done to rectify the situation and Catamount Health beneficiaries had to wait until November 1 to get their health care benefits.
It is only fair to note that the law states that “Catamount Health shall not be sold prior to October 1, 2007.” (8 VSA § 4080f(l)). Thus, the administration technically was not required to ensure that Vermonters had health care coverage as of that date. Nonetheless, the act establishing Catamount Health was signed into law on May 25, 2006. It wasn’t until June 4, 2007 that the confusion over the October 1 start date became apparent.
As noted above, despite a few setbacks, the administration has done a good job in implementing Catamount. Going forward, we hope that Gov. Douglas and others are able to build on this initial success and provide more Vermonters with access to quality, affordable health care.
SCHIP
In late October, the U.S. House of Representatives passed a second bill to reauthorize the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP). This was a compromise bill drafted in the wake of President Bush’s veto of the original SCHIP legislation. The Senate passed the compromise bill as well, but the House held off on sending it to the President, as he had once again promised a veto. The compromise bill was sent to the President on Nov. 30th and SCHIP is currently scheduled to sunset on December 14, 2007. Many are expecting that Congress will pass a long-term extension of the existing program after the President’s veto and return to the SCHIP debate next year.
We will keep you posted.
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