The goal for each message is to have some talking points to share on social networks, comment on articles, write letters to editors, etc.

Please FORWARD to Abbey (abbey.lamay(at)gmail.com) any articles or information to pass along to the rest of the ACDC and VT Messaging Teams. Please try to include talking points so others may personalize and share.

When you have taken action (shared, commented, written a letter, shared with your legislators, etc.), please make a comment ON the blog with a brief update or link.

Tuesday, March 20, 2018

Universal Primary Care Action URGENT

Message Committee:
We need to support S.53 now, before Tuesday.
Thanks to Bob Zeliff for creating these talking points and call to action.
Bill

Universal Primary Care S-53

Tim Ashe and Jane Kitchel are reluctant to properly support S-53 as currently drafted.

He and Jane Kitchel, are proposing a revised bill, that calls for the Green Mountain Care Board come up with a report on Universal Primary Care in 6 months.

The problems with this:
 • Scott has significantly cut the GMCB budget/staffing so even their normal tasks will be at risk.  Who will do this report?
• This report, even if done, will likely not have the needed input from the Judiciary( legal details and advice), Joint Financial Office (cost impacts), Provider inputs (how the hospital would want to implement), etc
• This report will likely be poorly done.
• This report would be cause delay and be pointed to why supporters of UPC have not done their home work, UPC would not be ready for implementation!

We need to move the current version of UPC S-53 out of Senate Appropriations and the Senate next week.

Now is the time to call our Senators to ask them to Vote S-53 out of the Appropriations Committee and the Senate.

Every one should call and e-mail Tim Ashe, Senate Majority Leader, and Jane Kitchel, Chain Senate Appropriations before Tuesday!

Example, if you need it, :

Dear Senator Ashe,

Universal Primary Care is needed by Vermonters, those without health insurance and those with obscenely high deductibles, are self-rationing, going without needed care NOW.  This is good for Vermonters and Vermont, will save money in the long term by treating illness early vs later when more severe and costly. Please vote the original version out of the Senate 

Susan Supporter
Home town, Vermont


Status

Senator’s Claire Ayer Health Care Committee voted S-53 UPC out Finance Committee last week.    

It now needs to be voted out of the Senate  Appropriations Committee (only 1 sponsor!!). Then it must be voted out of the Senate. Tim Ashe support is critical to this.  

Members of the Appropriations Committee:

Jane Kitchel, chair,              802 684 2482      djkitchal@leg.state.vt.us
Alie Nitka, v Chair,               802 228 8432      danitka@leg.state.vt.us
Dick Sears                                                       rsears@leg.state.vt.us
Dick McCormick,  sponsor   802 793 6417                      rmccormack@leg.state.vt.us    
Tim Ashe                              802 318 0903     tashe@leg.state.vt.us
Robert Starr                         802 988 2877      rstarr@leg.state.vt.us
Richard Westman                802 644 2297       rawestman@leg.state.vt.us

Universal Primary Care    Senate S53, House  H248 

Senator Claire Ayer is the lead sponsor, she is chair of Senate health care committee.

Rep William Lippert, chair of House health care committee.   He supports

Resources:

www.VermontForSinglePayer.org      vthca@sover.net

Report to Legislature:  Cost Estimate for Universal Primary Care
In accordance with Act 54 of 2015, Sections 16-19  Dec. 16, 2015
Google this in state files.  Saving summary at end of this paper.


Possible additional talking points:

• Will provide Primary Care for All Vermonters.

• Private Insurance and self insured employers would no longer have to pay for primary care services.  This should allow them to reduce their premiums, thus offsetting part of the total costs.

• This would provide free (paid by taxes) primary health care to those Vermonters who have no insurance.

• This would provide free (paid by taxes) primary health care to those Vermonters who have high deductibles (so they no longer have to self ration their own health care).

• Reduce total Vermont health care costs by finding serious health issues early when treatment is LESS costly.

• Cost of Current Health Care Insurance Policies should be reduced by the amount saved by Vermont Universal Primary care.  (no need for duplicate insurance)

• Some what offset the expect health care reductions the Trump Administration continues to push for.  Including but not limited to the expected Medicaid and Medicare cuts.

• Universal Primary Care is widely supported by Vermonters as a way to move toward Health Care for All Vermonters.

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