Peg reporting on Senate Health Care hearing, Thursday, March 11

Robin Lunge, from Leg Council handed out Draft 1.5-S.88 which may be up on the web page below by tomorrow. Draft 1.4-S88 is there now.
http://www.leg.state.vt.us./misc/issues.htm

Sen. Lyons did ask Robin to include language re: participation in the principles. Robin said that she could do that

Susan Bezio, Health Policy administrator from Gov. Douglas's staff, presented Alt. Draft # 1.1-S.88 . I will try and list their recommendations by section as the Health Committee basically accepted all that was in the Alt.Draft and will be incorporated in tomorrow's draft. So I think that it is critical that I try and capture the language changes/actions in the Administation's Alt draft.

Sec 2. Principles For Health Care Reform.
(1) Every person is entitled to comprehensive, quality health care. The administration changed it to read All Vermonters should have access

(5) The Adm took out the "For health care to be a human right" and replaced with "the state government must ensure that the health care system satisfies the principles in this section '.
(8) The Adm struck the language .... 'and such financing may be best obtained when broad based taxes, including payroll taxes, replace insurance premiums"

Sec. 3 Goals:
(6) The Adm. struck ..."should be covered under a publicly defined benefits package" and replaced it with "..should have access to health care that meets defined benefits standards, ...
(8) Adm struck "All essential health services should be covered under the publicy spnsored benefits package" and replaced with "A process will be developed to define the benefits standards

Sec 4 VERMONT HEALTH CARE BOARD.
(7) (B) (1) The ADM recommends that the "board shall consist of three members appointed by the governor" ( This is one place that the Committee took strong exception to but have not resolved as Sen. Mullin suggested that there be a 4 person board instead of 3 as in the original draft. ) The Adm also thought the 30 day period for the creation of the board was not doable.

Sec 6 HEALTH CARE SYSTEM DESIGN COMPONENTS
(B) The Adm struck the whole paragraph here because it sounded too much like it was already decided on single payer model (After committee discussion, it was agreed that paragraph would read.... methods for administering the payment of health benefits may include... and Robin will put in several different options/examples)

After a short recess, the committee continued discussion re: the Adm draft. Sen Racine commented that he was happy that they left the Principles and Goals pretty much in place. Sen. Mullin said to take out "public good" and Sen.Choate agreed saying we do not want a perception problem... Sen. Racine said that we cannot lose sight of the outcomes.... Universal access and affordability.

They also wanted to make sure that one of the design options is a single payer option and are going to strengthen the language in that area.

It was decided to remove Sections 7 and 8 from the bill.

Senator Lyons asked that there be a Quality Outcomes Section. Robin will work on that

Next draft will be presented tomorrow.