House: At 11:15 pm Tuesday night, the House voted 88-54 to accept the conference committee report on H.861—Affordable Health Care for Vermonters. This occurred after the Governor and Democratic leadership reached an agreement on how to offer insurance for Catamount Health. The House also passed H.895 (107-31) which embodies the agreement.
Agreement: Tuesday afternoon, Governor Douglas and the Democratic Leadership finalized an agreement on H.861. They held a press conference in the governor’s ceremonial office. Present were Governor Jim Douglas (R), Speaker Gaye Symington (D), Senator pro tem Peter Welch (D), Senator Jim Leddy (chair, Health and Welfare), Senator Ann Cummings (chair, Finance), Senator Bill Doyle (R), Rep. John Tracy (chair, Health Care), Rep. Harry Chen (D - Health Care), Rep. Topper McFaun (R - Health Care), Rep. Caroline Partridge (D - Majority Leader) and Rep. Floyd Nease (D - Assistant Majority Leader).
The agreement specifies a three step process for offering Catamount Health. Plan A provides private insurance companies an opportunity to sell Catamount Health insurance. If this does not work, then under plan B, the state would mandate that insurers offer Catamount. After two years, the Health Care Reform Committee would determine if these approaches were cost effective. If not, then the state would assume the risk and contract with a TPA (third party administrator) to administer Catamount Health. Here are some of the statements made at the press conference:
Governor Douglas (R): The legislature and my administration have worked long hours to reach this agreement. I want to thank the Democratic leadership for their willingness to reach an agreement on health care reform. This bill will provide more uninsured Vermonters access to insurance which has been our primary goal. There are many points of view about the bill but I think all Vermonters would agree that this is a step forward.
Last night Speaker Symington and I met one last time to forge an agreement. I appreciate that the Democratic leadership was willing to talk with us to find a consensus. Today’s agreement is based on the proposal that Mike Smith (Secretary of Administration) put forward last Friday.
Speaker Symington (D): I am pleased that the legislature and Governor Douglas agreed today on a compromise that will move health care reform forward. This bill is an important first step in living up to the legislature's commitment to controlling the skyrocketing costs of health care. It accomplishes that goal two ways: by making health care affordable and accessible to Vermonters who are currently uninsured and by establishing an outstanding system of chronic care management. This bill makes sure every Vermonter has access to health care, not just health insurance
Today, I left three kids at home because the teachers in our school district are standing up for a contract with better wages and health care. So, this is a personal issue for me. Vermont must make progress to reform health care and this is a good first step. I want to thank Rep. Tracy and Senator Leddy for their leadership in writing H.861 and for making this agreement happen.
Senator Welch (D): I’m proud of the Senate conferees who worked hard to get, first an agreement with the House conferees, and then with the administration. I also appreciate Senator Cummings for her determination to ensure the financing would be sustainable. This was her goal from the beginning of last session. Senator Leddy drove us crazy sometimes but thank you for your hard work.
This agreement reflects the uniqueness of Vermont. We provide something for everyone by finding common ground for common commitments. The bill will provide access to affordable insurance for 25,000 Vermonters. Families with incomes up to $55,000 will receive premium assistance to purchase comprehensive health care benefits.
Many believe a self-insured system would provide more health care at a lower cost. But our consultant convinced us to look at the big drivers of health care costs -- those people with chronic care conditions. So in this bill, we provide comprehensive disease management for people with chronic conditions. This agreement is not the end of the road -- it is a start.
Senator Leddy (D): I’m pleased we reached an agreement today. For a long time I thought health care was an issue of justice. However, I believe reform will happen, not because of social justice, but because of insolvency. Health care should not be determined by one’s age or place of employment. Health care coverage should not be a lottery where there are winners and losers. This agreement is a move toward justice.
Rep. Tracy (D): I’m going to miss Jim Leddy. Reaching this agreement was a long process. I want to thank the Speaker for putting together a great Health Care Committee. These members worked hard to understand the issues and to formulate a good bill.
From this point on, every Vermonter will have access to a doctor. You'll have a partner. You'll have an advocate in the health care system.
A decade ago we were in the same place -- some people said we went too far, some said we didn’t go far enough. Today, we put what is right for Vermont first. We put politics aside and came up with an agreement that is good for all Vermonters. This is a good bill.
Senator Doyle (R): This is a historical moment. Health care is the most important issue of our time. I applaud everyone for working hard to reach this agreement.
Rep. McFaun (R): We worked hard to forward our goal. We have taken a first step toward health care reform.
Rep. Chen (D): This was a rocky road to get to this agreement. There are a lot of good things in this bill. There is also a little bit for everyone not to like. I look forward to the road ahead which may be equally as rocky.
Governor Douglas: As I said, this agreement is based on the proposal that Mike Smith put forward last Friday. I’m pleased that we could agree on a two year review period to see if the private insurance market is working. There has already been a discussion for the need for the first technical correction. (Laughter)
Speaker Symington: I would characterize this differently. Key to the agreement is knowing there will not be a two year delay for uninsured Vermonters to get health care. We ceded to the governor by agreeing to let the free market place work. If this does not work, then insurers will be required to offer Catamount Health insurance. The plans will be evaluated to see if they are cost effective. If not, the state would assume the risk and would contract with a TPA (third party administrator) to administer Catamount Health.
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2006 Legislative Updates are funded by Vermont Health Care for All and Vermont Public Interest Research Group. They will be produced throughout the 2006 Legislative session by Paul Forlenza. He can be contacted at paul@forlenza.us
Agreement: Tuesday afternoon, Governor Douglas and the Democratic Leadership finalized an agreement on H.861. They held a press conference in the governor’s ceremonial office. Present were Governor Jim Douglas (R), Speaker Gaye Symington (D), Senator pro tem Peter Welch (D), Senator Jim Leddy (chair, Health and Welfare), Senator Ann Cummings (chair, Finance), Senator Bill Doyle (R), Rep. John Tracy (chair, Health Care), Rep. Harry Chen (D - Health Care), Rep. Topper McFaun (R - Health Care), Rep. Caroline Partridge (D - Majority Leader) and Rep. Floyd Nease (D - Assistant Majority Leader).
The agreement specifies a three step process for offering Catamount Health. Plan A provides private insurance companies an opportunity to sell Catamount Health insurance. If this does not work, then under plan B, the state would mandate that insurers offer Catamount. After two years, the Health Care Reform Committee would determine if these approaches were cost effective. If not, then the state would assume the risk and contract with a TPA (third party administrator) to administer Catamount Health. Here are some of the statements made at the press conference:
Governor Douglas (R): The legislature and my administration have worked long hours to reach this agreement. I want to thank the Democratic leadership for their willingness to reach an agreement on health care reform. This bill will provide more uninsured Vermonters access to insurance which has been our primary goal. There are many points of view about the bill but I think all Vermonters would agree that this is a step forward.
Last night Speaker Symington and I met one last time to forge an agreement. I appreciate that the Democratic leadership was willing to talk with us to find a consensus. Today’s agreement is based on the proposal that Mike Smith (Secretary of Administration) put forward last Friday.
Speaker Symington (D): I am pleased that the legislature and Governor Douglas agreed today on a compromise that will move health care reform forward. This bill is an important first step in living up to the legislature's commitment to controlling the skyrocketing costs of health care. It accomplishes that goal two ways: by making health care affordable and accessible to Vermonters who are currently uninsured and by establishing an outstanding system of chronic care management. This bill makes sure every Vermonter has access to health care, not just health insurance
Today, I left three kids at home because the teachers in our school district are standing up for a contract with better wages and health care. So, this is a personal issue for me. Vermont must make progress to reform health care and this is a good first step. I want to thank Rep. Tracy and Senator Leddy for their leadership in writing H.861 and for making this agreement happen.
Senator Welch (D): I’m proud of the Senate conferees who worked hard to get, first an agreement with the House conferees, and then with the administration. I also appreciate Senator Cummings for her determination to ensure the financing would be sustainable. This was her goal from the beginning of last session. Senator Leddy drove us crazy sometimes but thank you for your hard work.
This agreement reflects the uniqueness of Vermont. We provide something for everyone by finding common ground for common commitments. The bill will provide access to affordable insurance for 25,000 Vermonters. Families with incomes up to $55,000 will receive premium assistance to purchase comprehensive health care benefits.
Many believe a self-insured system would provide more health care at a lower cost. But our consultant convinced us to look at the big drivers of health care costs -- those people with chronic care conditions. So in this bill, we provide comprehensive disease management for people with chronic conditions. This agreement is not the end of the road -- it is a start.
Senator Leddy (D): I’m pleased we reached an agreement today. For a long time I thought health care was an issue of justice. However, I believe reform will happen, not because of social justice, but because of insolvency. Health care should not be determined by one’s age or place of employment. Health care coverage should not be a lottery where there are winners and losers. This agreement is a move toward justice.
Rep. Tracy (D): I’m going to miss Jim Leddy. Reaching this agreement was a long process. I want to thank the Speaker for putting together a great Health Care Committee. These members worked hard to understand the issues and to formulate a good bill.
From this point on, every Vermonter will have access to a doctor. You'll have a partner. You'll have an advocate in the health care system.
A decade ago we were in the same place -- some people said we went too far, some said we didn’t go far enough. Today, we put what is right for Vermont first. We put politics aside and came up with an agreement that is good for all Vermonters. This is a good bill.
Senator Doyle (R): This is a historical moment. Health care is the most important issue of our time. I applaud everyone for working hard to reach this agreement.
Rep. McFaun (R): We worked hard to forward our goal. We have taken a first step toward health care reform.
Rep. Chen (D): This was a rocky road to get to this agreement. There are a lot of good things in this bill. There is also a little bit for everyone not to like. I look forward to the road ahead which may be equally as rocky.
Governor Douglas: As I said, this agreement is based on the proposal that Mike Smith put forward last Friday. I’m pleased that we could agree on a two year review period to see if the private insurance market is working. There has already been a discussion for the need for the first technical correction. (Laughter)
Speaker Symington: I would characterize this differently. Key to the agreement is knowing there will not be a two year delay for uninsured Vermonters to get health care. We ceded to the governor by agreeing to let the free market place work. If this does not work, then insurers will be required to offer Catamount Health insurance. The plans will be evaluated to see if they are cost effective. If not, the state would assume the risk and would contract with a TPA (third party administrator) to administer Catamount Health.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2006 Legislative Updates are funded by Vermont Health Care for All and Vermont Public Interest Research Group. They will be produced throughout the 2006 Legislative session by Paul Forlenza. He can be contacted at paul@forlenza.us
