Over 200 people from 6 different states took part in VPIRG’s interactive health care webinar Health Reform 2012 – What’s Next and Why it Matters on Tuesday, February 7th. A recording of this event is available for download at VPIRG’s Health Care Action Center at vpirg.tempurl.host/hcaction.
The event brought top state experts on health care reform together, including Dr. Karen Hein of the Green Mountain Care Board, Chair of the House Committee on Health Care Mike Fisher, VPIRG’s Health Care Advocate Cassandra Gekas and Governor Peter Shumlin, to explain the next steps moving forward in Vermont’s path toward accessible, patient-centered, affordable health care for all. “I think we can, we must, and we will deliver the first single-payer health care system in the country,” said Governor Shumlin.
Hailed as an opportunity to bring Vermonters together to focus on the next steps in the state’s health care reform process, the event did just that, emphasizing the importance of citizen involvement throughout. “We know that industry lobbyists are up there talking to legislators. After tonight, I think we’ll see a lot more citizens making sure their voices are heard as well,” said VPIRG Field Director Liz Edsell.
In a moment of candor rarely expressed by government appointees, Dr. Karen Hein captured the essence of the webinar when she said “I’m dedicating my efforts to Vermonters, to each of you, because this has to do with your health and your money.”
The next VPIRG-sponsored health care webinar on February 14th from 11:00 am to 12:15 pm is aimed at bringing business owners up to speed on the health benefit exchange, a requirement of the federal health care law. For more information and to RSVP for the business webinar today, visit bit.ly/VTBusinessWebinar.