Catamount Health off to a good start, says VPIRG

December 6, 2007

The Vermont Public Interest Research Group has been a frequent and loud critic of Gov. James Douglas. But the Douglas administration has done fairly well jump starting the new Catamount Health program designed to cover those Vermonters without health insurance, according to the group.

"Overall the initial development and implementation of Catamount Health has been successful," concludes a VPIRG report expected to be released today.

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Advocates hope to increase Catamount enrollment

August 30, 2007

BRATTLEBORO -- If you don't have health insurance, expect a knock at your door soon.

The fear of some health care reform activists is that Vermont's new Catamount Health program will fail because people don't know about it or are intimidated by the enrollment process, so citizen advocates from the Vermont Campaign for Health Care Security Education Fund will be fanning out across the state to explain the program and help get those eligible enrolled.

"What we are doing with Catamount is way ahead of the rest of the nation," said Peter Sterling, the coordinator for the Vermont Campaign for Health Care Security, which is working with the Vermont Public Interest Research Group to get the word out.

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Outreach workers to raise health insurance awareness

2007-05-15

(Host) A public-private partnership has been created to encourage Vermonters who don't have health insurance to sign up for one of the state's subsidized programs.

As part of the plan, outreach workers will be sent to communities throughout the state to help uninsured Vermonters better understand how the state programs work.

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State seeks those who qualify for Catamount Health

May 16, 2007

MONTPELIER-- Clancy DeSmet and Carl Witke are two Vermonters who'd qualify for the state's new Catamount Health Plan.

Those with a stake in the health plan's success are revving up to find the other 30,000 Vermonters who could be helped by the plan.

The Vermont Public Interest Research Group, a watchdog organization that is often at odds with the state over issues such as health care, is among those to join the coalition to help promote Catamount.

The reason: VPIRG wants to see Catamount expanded to offer more complete and affordable coverage to small businesses and would like Catamount to be a model for other states, Executive Director Paul Burns said. "First, we've got to have a program that's successful."

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Knock, knock: Catamount Health reps hitting streets

By David Gram, Associated Press Writer May 15, 2007 MONTPELIER, Vt. --If someone knocks on your door this summer and wants to talk about health insurance coverage, you may want to listen.

A host of groups -- including the state, Vermont Public Interest Research Group and the Bi-State Primary Care Association-- will be involved in an effort to train outreach workers encouraging enrollment in Catamount and the state's other public health programs, which are Medicaid and the Vermont Health Access Plan.

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