Montana Gov. Brian Schweitzer Will Seek Health Care Law Waiver To Establish Single Payer In His State

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Vermont Gov. Peter Shumlin (D) made history earlier this year when he signed into law legislation that would make his state the first state to lay the groundwork for a single payer health care system. In order to enact this system, the state needs a waiver from the federal health care law, which it will be able to obtain in 2017. Rep. Peter Welch (D-VT) has introduced legislation to move the waiver date up to 2014, an idea President Obama has endorsed.

Now, another governor is looking to take advantage of flexibility in Obama’s health care law in order to establish a single payer system. Gov. Brian Schweitzer (D-MT) announced yesterday that he will be seeking a waiver to set up his own universal health care system in his state modeled after the single payer Canadian health care system that began in the province of Saskatchewan:

Gov. Brian Schweitzer said Wednesday he will ask the U.S. government to let Montana set up its own universal health care program, taking his rhetorical fight over health care to another level. [...] The popular second-term Democrat would like to create a state-run system that borrows from the program used in Saskatchewan. He said the Canadian province controls cost by negotiating drug prices and limiting non-emergency procedures such as MRIs.

Local news station KRTV covered Schweitzer’s bid for a new universal health care system for his state. Schweitzer said that under his ideal system patients can still buy private insurance if they want to, but that it’ll be a “lonely place over there at Blue Cross Blue Shield” due to the superior public health insurance he plans to provide.

Schweitzer’s announcement to seek a waiver and design his own system was met with curiosity by GOP state Sen. Jason Priest, who responded, “I don’t want to reject it before I see the details. I am just glad he is thinking about it.”

http://thinkprogress.org/health/2011/09/29/332031/montana-governor-waiver-for-single-payer/

[Bad_Daddy 2,209]

Screw Obama Care.

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

Good news. This is the way to go. Healthcare for all and cut the Feds right out of it. RIGHT out of it.

If Vermont and Wyoming can do it, so can your state. Tell the Feds and the insurance companies to pound sand up their @ss and do it yourselves! The insurance companies lobbied heavily to defeat Vermont's law.

The plan is for the single payer system to take effect in 2014

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

Screw Obama Care.

So, you don't think states should be able to pursue universal health care for their populations?

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

Good news. This is the way to go. Healthcare for all and cut the Feds right out of it. RIGHT out of it.

If Vermont and Wyoming can do it, so can your state. Tell the Feds and the insurance companies to pound sand up their @ss and do it yourselves! The insurance companies lobbied heavily to defeat Vermont's law.

The plan is for the single payer system to take effect in 2014

Problem is that the vast majority of the states will not do the right thing as Vermont and Montana are doing. I'd prefer to have the states handle this but it appears that the states need a push into the right direction. Coverage isn't increasing at many state levels, it is decreasing.

[Obama 2012 1,714]

Problem is that the vast majority of the states will not do the right thing as Vermont and Montana are doing. I'd prefer to have the states handle this but it appears that the states need a push into the right direction. Coverage isn't increasing at many state levels, it is decreasing.

Then move to a state that better suits your ideas of what you want out of your government.

Many people have forgotten that states are more like mini-countries and were setup as such for good reason.

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

Then move to a state that better suits your ideas of what you want out of your government.

I base my decision on where to live not on whether or not I like the particular state government but rather where a job I might be interested in is located. I still have a quarter century to worry about that kind of thing. That's how I ended up in this very corrupt state that just elected a crook governor.

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

So, you don't think states should be able to pursue universal health care for their populations?

They do not need permission from feral government to do so, are you kidding me?

I absolutely think states should pursue universal health care for their residents. Screw Obamacare.

I base my decision on where to live not on whether or not I like the particular state government but rather where a job I might be interested in is located. I still have a quarter century to worry about that kind of thing. That's how I ended up in this very corrupt state that just elected a crook governor.

I am Pro Choice! Live where you choose.

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

I absolutely think states should pursue universal health care for their residents.

Great. Obama does too.

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

Then move to a state that better suits your ideas of what you want out of your government.

Many people have forgotten that states are more like mini-countries and were setup as such for good reason.

That's what being a free country is all about!

Vermont has reportedly had a LOT of interest from corporations interested in moving here in order to be able to save billions on healthcare insurance, so there may be a job for you if you plan to move. Why would a corporation stay in New York or Massachusetts if they can save millions moving to Vermont?

What will be interesting is if Vermont will continue to throw up its environmental roadblocks to new corporations. Getting building permits here can take years.

Great. Obama does too.

Yeah but, who cares what he thinks? It is not the job or responsibility of the President. Maybe he should just stay on vacation.

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

I am Pro Choice! Live where you choose.

As am I. I am pro free speech as well. Say what you choose. So I criticize the idiots in Tallahasse for the short-sighted and stupid decision to decrease access to adequate health care coverage for residents of this state rather than expanding it. Seeing that these bozos ain't ever gonna get it, I appreciate the feds putting some pressure on them to do the right thing. They need all the pressure they can get.

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

Great. Obama does too.

he should agree with me more often. He might even get re-elected if he agreed with me all the time.

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

he should agree with me more often. He might even get re-elected if he agreed with me all the time.

How many times were you re-elected?

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

How many times were you re-elected?

3

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

3

Was that prior to or after High School?