Vermont Governor Signs Single Payer Health Care Legislation

On May 26, 2011, Vermont Governor Peter Schumlin signed legislation to move Vermont to a single payer health care system by 2017. The publicly financed, universal health benefits program will provide coverage to all Vermont citizens separate from their employers. The legislation also created a statewide health care exchange, which will provide consumer health plan comparisons. Additionally, the legislation created a health care oversight board, which is charged with designing a single-payer health plan system for all state residents. The bill creates the following entities and assigns responsibilities as follows: The Green Mountain Care Board will design payment structures . . .