State single payer moving right along

[Jim Lane]

49. Vermont has not yet implemented single-payer.

I know you were just being sarcastic, but the serious point is that there is, as yet, no Vermont experience to inform other states (or the federal government).

Here's the information from the State of Vermont's website:

In May of 2011 Vermont passed Act 48, putting the state on the path to implementing a universal and unified health care system that covers all Vermonters. The path to publicly financed, universally available, high quality health care coverage is complex. Like any complex journey, this one will be accomplished in several steps.

The Vermont Health Benefit Exchange will go into effect January 2014. Today, the state is working to implement the Exchange as mandated by federal and state law. At the same time, we are planning ahead in accordance with Act 48 to implement Vermont's single-payer health care system. The single-payer system will not go into effect until a number of milestones are achieved, including obtaining a waiver from the federal government and approval by the Vermont legislature of a financing plan that meets the requirements of Act 48. (from "Health Care Reform Timeline")