At a press conference held Thursday in the Cedar Creek Room at the Statehouse, the Vermont House Republican Caucus distributed copies of a letter that will be presented to the Secretary of Administration Jeb Spaulding urging him to comply with the health care reform law Act 48.
Jeffery Wennberg Executive Director of Vermonters for Health Care Freedom identified 15 specific legal requirements the administration failed to comply with. Most glaring was the omission of the requirements under section 9(b) (1), which call for plan consideration of financing sources including, ‘ adjustments to the income tax, a payroll tax, consumption taxes, provider assessments required under 33 V.S.A. chapter 19, the employer assessment required by 21 V.S.A. chapter 25, other new or existing taxes, and additional options as determined by the secretary.’ Also critical was the failure to provide information about ‘ impacts of tax system changes . . . on individuals, households, businesses, public sector entities, and the nonprofit community. There is no analysis of impacts on anyone. To put it bluntly, this report does not comply with the requirements of Act 48.’
Senator Joe Benning R-Caledonia stated ‘ that this information is essential for all Vermonters but, is especially important to Vermont businesses as they plan for substantial health care reform on January 1, 2014.’
‘ Our goal today was to shed light onto the fact that the administration of Governor Peter Shumlin is not complying with the Healthcare Reform law known as Act 48. All Vermonters are expected to comply with the laws of our state and we feel that the Governor and his administration should as well. Therefore, we strongly urge the Governor and his administration to comply with the law within 15 days’ said House Minority Leader Don Turner.
LETTER:
January 31, 2013
Dear Secretary Spaulding:
I write on behalf of the Republican Caucus of the House of Representatives. As you know, many members of our caucus voted against what is now Act 48, but that is history. Our concern now is how that Act will move forward.
Act 48 itself laid out a plan’ a roadmap if you will’ for advancing Vermont’ s health care reform efforts. It is the law, and it should be complied with.
Our review of the University of Massachusetts report reveals that it falls far short of complying with the requirements of Sec. 9 of Act 48.
The act requires the secretary of administration or designee to recommend two financing plans to the legislative committees of jurisdiction by January 15, 2013, one to recommend financing amounts and mechanisms that must be in place by January 1, 2014, and the other to recommend the amounts and mechanisms necessary for Green Mountain Care, as well as issues related to individuals who live or work in neighboring states. Both plans are also required to address several financing-related issues, including potential financing sources, funding needs, and financing mechanisms. The act requires you or your designee to consult with interested stakeholders to determine the potential impact of various financing sources on Vermont businesses and on the state's economy and economic climate, and to report these findings and any related recommendations. It further requires you or your designee to solicit public input when designing the financing plan for Green Mountain Care, to provide opportunities for public engagement, and to consider strategies to address individuals who currently receive health coverage through federal governmental or foreign sources.
You chose to contract these responsibilities out to people at the University of Massachusetts (your ‘ designee’ ?) at a cost of $300,000.00. In our view, the UMass report fails to provide the information and recommendations required by the Act.
We understand that your view is that a single payer system cannot begin before 2017 and that the General Assembly does not need to take any action this year. We respect your right to hold that opinion, but the General Assembly may not agree, and should the General Assembly wish to take certain actions to further Vermont’ s health care reform efforts this year, we are tremendously handicapped by the lack of information and recommendations contemplated and required by Sec. 9 of Act 48.
We would respectfully request that you comply fully with the requirements of Sec. 9 of Act 48 within 15 days from your receipt of this letter.
Sincerely,
Don Turner Jr. House Minority Leader
House Republicans push governor to comply with Act 48
Submitted by tim
on