Healthcare

Vermont cannot rest until high quality healthcare is a right for all, freeing Vermonters from worrying about high medical bills, and ever-increasing premiums and prescription drug costs.  I’ve supported single-payer options in the past and continue to believe that a “Medicare for All” style system is what Vermont, and this country, needs to catch up with the rest of the world.

While we continue to seek long-term solutions, the current reality presents many challenges.  Healthcare costs are still far too high.  The viability of our treasured local hospitals is threatened and we have a severe shortage of healthcare workforce.  I will continue to support a sustainable healthcare system in Vermont, investing more in mental health, cutting healthcare costs, and providing better services.  

We have made progress for Vermonters by softening the Medicaid cliff many experienced as they moved onto Medicare, eliminating the requirement for prior authorizations for all our primary care providers, allowing for wholesale prescription drug importation from Canada, expanding our tele-health opportunities, passing the Blueprint for Health, upholding the individual mandate to stabilize our insurance markets, and increasing the number of inpatient beds for serious mental health care.  I have also supported the Senate’s recent work to improve the flexibility of our healthcare system and to tackle staffing shortages through the expansion of tele-health options and streamlining our nurse licensure system.