COMMISSION ON HEALTH CARE REFORM
MINUTES
Wednesday, August 3, 2005
Members Present: Representatives John Tracy, Co-chair; Steve Maier; Janet Ancel; Francis “Topper” McFaun; Senators Jim Leddy,
Co-chair; Jane Kitchel; Walter Freed
Members Absent: Senator Ann Cummings; Senator Kevin Mullin;
John Bloomer, Jr.
Also Present: Legislative and Joint Fiscal staff, members of the
Administration, the press, and the public
Meeting Recorded: CD 2005 – 5, 6
1. Convene
Senator Leddy and Representative Tracy convened the meeting at 9:45 a.m. in Room 11 at the State House, Montpelier, Vermont. Senator Leddy welcomed everyone and said the health plan presentations would provide comparative information to look at in the state and outside the state to learn from and discuss.
2. Health Care Expenditure and Health Insurance Enrollment Documents distributed:
Dian Kahn, Director of Analysis and Data Management, Health Care Administration, Department of Banking, Insurance, Securities, and Health Care Administration, presented the above Power Point presentation. She said she would review health care trends and then discuss 2 recent studies. She said she would discuss the complexity of what is driving health care costs in the country and what is the theory behind rising costs.
John Crowley, Commissioner, Department of Banking, Insurance, Securities, and Health Care Administration, answered some of the Commission’s questions relating to health insurance.
3. Health Plan Presentation: Vermont League of Cities and Towns Documents distributed:
David Sichel, Director of Group Services, Vermont League of Cities and Towns (VLCT), and William Shepeluk, Municipal Manager, Waterbury; as well as Board Member, VLCT; President, Health Trust, VLCT, presented VLCT’s answers to the Commission’s prepared questions.
David Sichel said it was important to look at the current health care system’s strengths and bring parties to the table. He said VLCT’s health care proposal makes use of Vermont’s current strengths, and that it was a public and private sector approach.
Senator Leddy asked if the proposal had the endorsement of the VLCT Board. David Sichel said it did.
David Sichel mentioned a November 18 annual meeting of VLCT Health Trust and said he invited Commission members and possibly the House Health and Senate Health and Welfare Committees to participate. Senator Leddy thanked him for the invitation and said he would make every effort for a dialogue.
Senator Leddy said he hoped VLCT was continuing to refine its health care proposal to reflect a greater percentage of the membership, as well as working on how to finance it.
Representative McFaun said he hoped there would be consideration given to changing the way health care is delivered, i.e. utilizing health care clinics, so that more money could be saved.
Senator Leddy said he appreciated Vermont League of Cities and Towns’ willingness to put forth a clear proposal and said he looked forward to a culture of working together.
4. Health Plan Presentation: Vermont Businesses for Social Responsibility; Review and Approve 7/19/05 Meeting Minutes Documents distributed:
Don Mayer, CEO, Small Dog Electronics, Waitsfield and a Board Member of Vermont Businesses for Social Responsibility (VBSR) and Scudder Parker, outgoing public policy coordinator, VBSR, reviewed VBSR’s answers to the Commission prepared questions.
Don Mayer said the biggest impediment to growth of business in the state is health insurance premiums. Senator Leddy asked about the role of employers and ERISA issues. Don Mayer suggested a tax for health care could be implemented the same way Vermont collects unemployment taxes from each employer.
Walter Freed asked given Vermont has one of the most progressive income taxes in the United States, would this affect the ability to use the income tax and also attract business to the state? Don Mayer said solving the health care problem in Vermont was a tool for economic development in Vermont. Walter Freed followed up with a question about what would happen to the people who held jobs in health care which would no longer be needed in a new system. Scudder Parker responded that if there was a loss of jobs as a result of restructuring Vermont’s health care system, there would be a transition for those people to jobs in the new system which directly relate to health. He said part of the transition would provide opportunities for better use of people’s time than doing administrative paper work.
Don Mayer said the challenge was to create jobs with Vermont businesses that will no longer have a health care burden.
Senator Leddy thanked Don Mayer and Scudder Parker for their thoughtful presentation and their willingness to find common ground.
Representative Maier made a motion to approve the July 19, 2005 meeting minutes as presented. The motion passed unanimously on a voice vote.
5. Request for Information Update
Steve Klein and Steve Kappel, Joint Fiscal Office, said the Request for Information had been sent out, responses were being received, and the deadline was August 8.
Representative Tracy requested staff prepare a document comparing health plan presenters’ answers to the Commission’s questions; he also asked that heath care systems throughout the world be compared.
6. Commission Director Hiring Process Update
Bill Russell, Legislative Counsel, reported 50 applications for Commission Director had been received. He said Legislative and Joint Fiscal staff were continuing to review and discuss resumes with the Commission’s co-chair. He said the process was continuing, and applications were being acknowledged and reviewed as they came in.
He said staff narrowed the applications to 12, reviewed the 12 with the co-chair, and then conducted telephone and in-person interviews on Monday. The outcome would be the co-chair would select 3 to come in person August 9 to be interviewed by the entire Commission.
Senator Leddy said the logistical arrangements were to meet Tuesday at a place other than the State House to interview the 3 candidates. He said following the interviews by the Commission, there would possibly be a choice made and an offer. He said staff was developing a common base of questions to ask of the candidates.
7. Future Meeting Planning
The Commission agreed to meet Tuesday, August 9, 2005, off site, in executive session, for the purpose of interviewing possible Commission Directors; and Tuesday, August 30, 2005, at the State House, Montpelier, beginning at noon, after the Health Access Oversight Committee meeting.
The meeting adjourned at 1:00 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
/s/ Rachel Levin
Legislative Council