Health Care Talk (HCTalk.com)

[Denver Dave]

Vermont Health Care Systems Redesigns On Track 9/15/2010
http://www.wcax.com/Global/story.asp?S=13161777

Experts hired to draft redesigns of Vermont's health care system say they are on target to meet their deadline.

They say they've finished looking at how things currently work and will soon begin examining new ideas.

Under Act 128, which was passed at the end of the last legislative session, consultants must draft outlines of a single-payer system, a public health system, and a third that is up to the consultants.

"Major things like does it actually guarantee universal access? Are there mechanisms in place to keep the costs sustainable? And any analysis like this involves winners and losers so we want to make sure we understand who comes out ahead, who comes out behind, try to minimize the who comes out behind part of it," consultant Steve Kappel said.

The consultants are expected to present their three proposals to lawmakers February 1.