Shumlin's Single Payer Health Proposal Gets Boost From Obama

[cali]

Monday, 02/28/11 5:50pm


Bob Kinzel

(Host) Governor Peter Shumlin's plan to implement a single payer health care system in Vermont by 2014 has gotten a big boost.

President Obama told a meeting of the nation's governors that he'll help states get federal waivers so they have more flexibility in designing their own systems.

That waiver is exactly what the Shumlin Administration needs to pursue a single payer system in a timely manner.

VPR's Bob Kinzel reports:

(Kinzel) Under the new federal health care law, states must wait until 2017 before they're allowed to create their own plan to provide comprehensive care at an affordable cost.

Vermont's Congressional delegation has proposed a bill to move this date up to 2014.

At the winter meeting of the National Governors Association, President Obama said he'll support this legislation. That was very good news to Governor Peter Shumlin, who was attending his first NGA meeting.

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http://www.vpr.net/news_detail/90169/

[Jackpine Radical]

1. Yes, so far this seems like a pretty good proposal.

[Auntie Bush]

2. Shumlin's a keeper!

So glad to hear he/they got the waiver. Go Vermont! Be the first with a public option/single payer.