(Host) Peter Shumlin and Brian Dubie have very different visions for how Vermont can control health care costs.
As VPR’s Bob Kinzel reports, the contrast underscores their differing view on the role of government.
(Kinzel) In the past decade, health care costs in Vermont have more than doubled. It’s a situation that has had a big impact on individuals, businesses, schools and municipalities.
Democrat Peter Shumlin wants Vermont to adopt a single payer health care system – a system where a person’s health care coverage is no longer dependent on their place of employment.
Shumlin argues that the time has come to make major reforms because the current growth rate is out of control.
(Shumlin) "It’s not sustainable so we must find a way to contain costs while still delivering quality care. I believe you get that savings through getting the insurance company profits out of the picture, reimbursing providers based on healthy outcomes instead of the number of tests they run through and getting the 12 to 14 cents on the dollar that we’re spending chasing money around out of the system. There are huge savings there."
(Kinzel) Under the new federal health care law, individual states can apply for a waiver to implement a single payer system beginning in 2017 – although Vermont’s Congressional delegation believes it can happen by 2014.
Republican Brian Dubie doesn’t support the single payer approach and he says the waiver timetable is a problem.
(Dubie) "I’m a realist – the law says, I don’t say…the federal law says that we’ll entertain no waivers until 2017. That’s what the law says, I’ve read it."
(Kinzel) Shumlin says Vermont has been able to get special health care waivers in the past and he says there’s no reason why it can’t happen in the future.
(Shumlin) "As Governor, we’re going to write and design the bill together with the health care community, business community and others. We’re going to pass it, we’re going to go to Washington…to appeal to the President of the United States to get us the waiver as quickly as possible. You don’t get anything done in government by saying there are obstacles in our way."
(Kinzel) Dubie has his own plan to control health care costs. He wants to standardize insurance forms, accelerate the use of a computerized medical records system and expand Vermont’s Blueprint for Health chronic care initiative.
(Dubie) "That’s not a wild idea but it could save money some people say significant money. We could also reform medical malpractice reform. Vermont has frivolous lawsuits from taking to the Vermont Medical Society this would be an area that could help bring down costs. There’s another idea – incentives for wellness, you know I’m open minded about people, for people to watch their weight and to stop smoking."
(Kinzel) Dubie and Shumlin do agree on one key issue. Both believe it’s critical to move away from the current fee for service system and replace it with a financing plan that’s based on quality outcomes for patients.
For VPR News, I’m Bob Kinzel in Montpelier.