Questions:
- Will you support a bill that ensures health care as a human right consistent with the principles of universality, equity, accountability, transparency and participation?
- Will you be a champion for the Health Care is a Human Right campaign and do anything you can to get a bill consistent with these principles passed this year?
- What reservations do you have? What information do you need?
- What can we, the People’s Team, do to help you pass a bill consistent with these principles?
- Will you meet with us to learn about the human rights assessment tool and use that tool to assess the designs that come from the Hsiao team and other legislative proposals for healthcare reform?
Issues
There is a health care crisis in our communities.
Despite the fact that we are spending twice as much on health care than all the other nations with universal care, thousands of Vermonters lack of access to quality health care. People are dying and suffering from illness because of current barriers to care. Many Vermonters now live in fear of what will happen if they get sick, and health care is now the leading cause of bankruptcy and homelessness.
On passing a bill this year during a state budget crisis
Vermonters cannot afford the broken health care system any longer. The exploding costs of health care are bankrupting our state, and leading to a loss of much needed public services. An organized health care system that eliminated waste, inefficacy and profit and had global budgeting of hospitals would be able to provide high quality comprehensive care for every resident while savings Vermonters tens of millions of dollars.
On cost
All the money that is needed is being paid by Vermonters now, spent through state health care benefit programs, private and employer insurance payments, and out of pocket payments. If we take out the profit and excessive administrative costs and use an organized system to control costs we can provide comprehensive care for all Vermonters.
On federal waivers
Just other programs like when we started VHAP and Dr. Dynasaur, we do not have to wait to receive the waivers before moving forward with creating a new program. Sen. Bernie Sanders has already begun pushing for the waivers we need. We need to move forward now.
We need our Vermont legislators to find ways to resolve these problems. We will not accept excuses any longer.