Vermont may pay for single-payer through increased payroll contributions from workers and employers

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Expert: Hybrid plan can fix Vermont health care system

BENNINGTON -- An expert told lawmakers Wednesday that a hybrid, public-private single-payer health care system can replace the current "broken" system while covering all Vermonters, improving health facilities and saving money.

"Vermont has a broken health care system. To fix such a system is possible but will require change of your system," said Dr. William Hsiao, a Harvard economist and renowned health care system expert commissioned by the state.

...

Vermont currently has about 47,000 uninsured residents, according to Hsiao. Recent federal changes after taking effect will leave about 5 percent of the state without coverage. Federal health care reform "will not solve the problem for you," he said.

Hsiao predicted Congress will revisit health care reform soon and said Vermont can demonstrate what is possible. "In five years I predict the United States will go through another major debate on how to reform the health care system."

...

Hsiao said ... a single-payer system that is a public-private endeavor, is the best solution for Vermont.

It would be paid for with payroll contributions from employers and workers. That, Hsiao said, is the "most viable and most practical" financing mechanism.

...

"We will exempt the low-wage employers and the low-earner workers because their ability to pay the payroll contribution would be very limited or non-existent," he said.

...

Businesses could still provide private insurance but would not avoid the payroll tax by doing so, according to Hsiao.

...

The system would not be run solely by the government, according to Hsiao. Administration of the system should be put out to bid every few years, he said, and a private or quasi-government entity could administer the system, he said.

"Government is a monopoly. We know when businesses are a monopoly what they will do. They will exploit the customers as well as get lazy," he said.

...

Private insurers, particularly Cigna and MVP, will see their business "vastly reduced or completely withdrawn," he said.

Some jobs will be eliminated, too. "Under single-payer you do not need sales and marketing people. You do not need underwriters. These people are going to lose their jobs," he said.

http://www.benningtonbanner.com/ci_17142024?source=rss_viewed

Edited January 21, 2011 by \

[james&olya 1,121]

Expert: Hybrid plan can fix Vermont health care system

BENNINGTON -- An expert told lawmakers Wednesday that a hybrid, public-private single-payer health care system can replace the current "broken" system while covering all Vermonters, improving health facilities and saving money.

"Vermont has a broken health care system. To fix such a system is possible but will require change of your system," said Dr. William Hsiao, a Harvard economist and renowned health care system expert commissioned by the state.

...

Vermont currently has about 47,000 uninsured residents, according to Hsiao. Recent federal changes after taking effect will leave about 5 percent of the state without coverage. Federal health care reform "will not solve the problem for you," he said.

Hsiao predicted Congress will revisit health care reform soon and said Vermont can demonstrate what is possible. "In five years I predict the United States will go through another major debate on how to reform the health care system."

...

Hsiao said ... a single-payer system that is a public-private endeavor, is the best solution for Vermont.

It would be paid for with payroll contributions from employers and workers. That, Hsiao said, is the "most viable and most practical" financing mechanism.

...

"We will exempt the low-wage employers and the low-earner workers because their ability to pay the payroll contribution would be very limited or non-existent," he said.

...

Businesses could still provide private insurance but would not avoid the payroll tax by doing so, according to Hsiao.

...

The system would not be run solely by the government, according to Hsiao. Administration of the system should be put out to bid every few years, he said, and a private or quasi-government entity could administer the system, he said.

"Government is a monopoly. We know when businesses are a monopoly what they will do. They will exploit the customers as well as get lazy," he said.

...

Private insurers, particularly Cigna and MVP, will see their business "vastly reduced or completely withdrawn," he said.

Some jobs will be eliminated, too. "Under single-payer you do not need sales and marketing people. You do not need underwriters. These people are going to lose their jobs," he said.

http://www.benningtonbanner.com/ci_17142024?source=rss_viewed

Go Vermont!!!