WHAT:
Governor to Sign Health Care Bills
Montpelier, Vermont
Tomorrow (June 10, 2008), Governor Jim Douglas will visit Milton CAT, a business with
an award-winning worksite wellness program, to sign two health care bills into
law. Governor Douglas will be joined by legislators, advocates, insurance
company representatives and others as he signs H. 887 and S. 283.
H. 887 and S. 283 build on the groundbreaking reforms included in
Health Care Affordability Acts of 2006, including the new Catamount Health
Plans and Governor Douglas forward-thinking Blueprint for
Health, which is helping Vermont lead the nation in efforts to change our health care system
to one focused on preventing illness and complications, rather than reacting to
health emergencies. Governor Douglas will highlight innovative wellness
programs, such as Milton CATs, that are following the Blueprint model.
While not as sweeping as the 2006 Health Care Affordability Act, the
two bills the Governor will sign tomorrow are significant next steps in
improving the cost and quality of our health care system. Among other
provisions, the legislation:
increases access to
Catamount Health for more Vermonters by alleviating some of the
pre-existing condition concerns and by allowing people with high
deductible individual market plans to purchase Catamount Health Plans
without having to be uninsured for 12 months;
relaxes the 75
percent rule for small businesses so they can continue to offer coverage
even when their employee situations change;
enhances the focus
on chronic care and prevention at the local and community level, with a
special focus on healthy weight and obesity;
provides increased
support for health care providers and takes further steps to promote the
use of cost-saving information technology;
moves forward with
initiatives that encourage Vermonters to make healthier lifestyle choices;
and
works to improve
immunization coverage rates among the youngest children in Vermont and reduce
the likelihood that children will acquire or spread a vaccine-preventable
disease.
WHEN:
Tuesday, June 10, 2008 10:00 a.m.
WHERE:
Milton CAT, Route 2, One
Cat Lane, Richmond, VT 05477
(Take Exit
11 off
I-89. Head North on Route 2 toward Williston and
Milton CAT will be on your right, before the bridge. )
###
Milton CAT was the recipient of a Vermont Governors Council 2007
Gold Award for Work Site Wellness, Physical Fitness & Sports. At the
start of each workday, employees of this Caterpillar equipment dealer do a 10
minute stretch routine led by their supervisors. An annual Health Risk
Assessment checks employees blood pressure and body composition.
Wellness Coaches, USA
provides weekly confidential health counseling. And the Milton CAT
corporate office launched a Biggest Loser contest among its 12
sites to encourage healthy weight loss. The Richmond site winner lost 50 pounds.
Jason Gibbs
Governors
Communications Director
109
State Street ¨ The Pavilion ¨ Montpelier,
VT 05609-0101 ¨ www.vermont.gov/governor
Telephone: 802.828.3333 ¨ Fax: 802.828.3339 ¨ TDD: 802.828.3345