Vermont Business Magazine Two Republican legislators are taking Governor Peter Shumlin at his word and are insisting that he immediately address the continuing difficulties many Vermonters are facing with Vermont Health Connect. In a statement released today, Representatives Patti Komline (R-Dorset) and Heidi Scheuermann (R-Stowe), called on the governor to take immediate steps to ensure timely access to health insurance and health care for all.
Patti Komline (R-Dorset). Photo by VTDigger.
“Recent news reports have outlined very clearly the ongoing problems with the functionality of Vermont Health Connect, and the disastrous effect it is having on the care thousands of Vermonters are receiving,” Komline said. “But this didn’t have to happen. Unlike all other states that developed their own Exchanges, Governor Shumlin and legislative leadership insisted that our Exchange be mandatory. Knowing this enormous project might have complications, many of us fought for Vermonters to be able to choose purchasing insurance inside or outside of the Exchange. Unfortunately, our efforts failed and now we are facing a real crisis.”
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“Mr Governor, Vermonters are hurting,” added Scheuermann. “It is time now to admit that was a mistake, and allow those people who are stuck in this abysmal system to work directly with their insurance carriers if they so choose.”
In the statement, they said that on June 9, 2014, 10,000 people were trapped in the system, which resulted in the state signing a 6-month, $5.69 million contract with Optum for additional help. This, they said, is on top of the over $70 million the state has already spent on consultants and outside contractors to develop Vermont Health Connect.
Heidi Scheuermann (R-Stowe). Photo by VTDigger.
“Since June 9th, that 10,000 Vermonters with coverage problems has grown to 14,173,” continued Scheuermann. “Plus, for reasons beyond the Administration’s understanding, an additional 22,000 Medicaid enrollees haven’t renewed their coverage.“
“These are real people with serious problems,” continued Komline. “Vermonters in need of critical care, such as MRI’s, asthma medication, and hospital care have been turned away for lack of coverage – even though they had enrolled and paid. One woman told me her hospital bills weren’t paid and it has affected her credit rating.”
“I’ve spent a great deal of time over the past months trying to assist Vermonters with their coverage difficulties, and I can tell you with absolute certainty that it is getting worse, not better. It is time to put these Vermonters first.”
Governor Shumlin in his office earlier this month. Photo by Vermont Business Magazine.
Specifically, Representatives Komline and Scheuermann called on Governor Shumlin to allow Vermonters to move the management of their plans over to the insurance companies and allow new enrollees to purchase their plans directly through these carriers. As a member of the House Health Care Committee, Komline said she fought for this option when the legislation was being debated. With the difficulties now, she said, this option is well overdue.
Businesses already have been asked to go directly to Blue Cross or MVP.
“When it was clear earlier that the Exchange would not be able to process the coverage of small businesses, the governor stepped in and allowed those businesses to purchase insurance directly from the insurers,” continued Scheuermann. “It is time to do that for all Vermonters.”
“The governor said it’s up to him to fix the problem, well here’s his chance.”
Komline and Scheuermann said they understand that Vermonters can only qualify for federal subsidies if they purchase through the Exchange. But, they said, approximately half of those Vermonters who are in limbo would not qualify for these subsidies, therefore those people could much more easily be managing and purchasing their plans directly through their insurance companies. They said this move would free up the staff at Vermont Health Connect to focus on the remaining enrollees who receive subsidies and have been waiting for help, along with the 22,000 Medicaid enrollees.
Komline said, “If the Administration ever does create a fully functional Exchange, they have the ability to return to forcing Vermonters to purchase their insurance there. Until then, it is essential that hubris is put aside and we meet the essential needs of our constituents. The Governor got one thing right. It is up to him to fix the problem and this is a responsible call to action. And it is the first one that comes without a big bill from a consultant.”