Vermont Business MagazineAfter the collapse of the latest effort in the U.S. Senate to repeal and replace existing federal health care policy, leaders of The University of Vermont Health Network are calling on Congress to maintain critical funding that provides access to affordable insurance coverage for tens of thousands of vulnerable residents in Vermont andNorthern New York.
“Lawmakers in Washington have a new chance to create a bipartisan proposal that genuinely improves the health care system for everyone,” said John Brumsted, MD, president and CEO of the UVM Health Network. “We urge them to recognize that deep cuts to Medicaid – which have been a central component of recent proposals – would move us in the wrong direction and hurt children, seniors and those with disabilities.”
In an unprecedented joint letter sent to U.S. Senate leaders Mitch McConnell and Charles Schumer, hospital presidents across the Network and the president of the UVM Health Network Medical Group called for rejection of theRepublican health care bill known as the Better Care Reconciliation Act (BCRA). While the BCRA is no longer an active proposal, Network leaders have outlined key principles against which any new legislation should be measured:
Preserve and enhance gains Vermont and New York have made through state policies to guarantee access to affordable insurance coverage regardless of pre-existing conditions.
Support current reforms to develop an affordable, collaborative system that rewards the quality of care provided instead of paying for each test and procedure.
Maintain investments in key initiatives such as drug addiction treatment and mental health services
The Network’s leaders also point out in the letter that reduced Medicaid funding would shift costs to policy holders and taxpayers, who would have to help pay for care for the uninsured and for funding gaps instate budgets, increasing costs for everyone.
“We are grateful to those state and congressional leaders who actively opposed the BCRA, and we will continue to work with all legislators,health system leaders and providersto advocate for federal policies that make it easier for us to work together to improve the lives of the one million people we serve in our region,” said Brumsted. “We hope everyone in our communities will join us in calling for health care legislation based on these principles.”
Source- UVM 7.24.2017