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Phil Scott on Health Care

 

 


Add more areas to mobile mental health response initiative

Last year, we piloted a mobile mental health response initiative in Rutland, which helps people when and where they are in crisis. This is making a real difference, so we will build on it with nearly $2 million more to serve four additional communities. We will also strengthen our suicide prevention program by adding nearly $1 million in funding.
Source: 2022 State of the State Address to the Vermont legislature , Feb 18, 2022

Increase mental health beds, expand suicide prevention

Our mental health system is facing serious stress and it is not uncommon for emergency departments to have many people in mental health crisis, as they await treatment. Which is why we will continue to increase the number of mental health beds throughout the state. And I'll ask you to expand our mobile crisis pilot and suicide prevention model to make sure when our friends and family, neighbors and co-workers need us most, we have the tools to help.
Source: 2022 State of the State Address to the Vermont legislature , Jan 5, 2022

Time to cap annual increases, prioritize prevention

We also need to contain healthcare costs in the long run. With that in mind, I believe it's time to set a cap on annual increases and continue moving to a system where we pay for quality, not just quantity--and do so in a way that prioritizes prevention on the part of the patient as well as the provider. These are the goals of the All-Payer Model, which you might have heard about over the last three years.
Source: 2021 State of the State Address to the Vermont legislature , Jan 7, 2021

Must increase affordability of health insurance

Vermont has one of the lowest uninsured rates in the nation. But Vermonters still struggle with the high cost of insurance, especially those in our state marketplace. That's why I'll propose health insurance reforms focused on increasing affordability for Vermonters and, specifically, young people, as we work to retain and attract more of them.

When actions in Washington put access to healthcare in jeopardy, Speaker Johnson, Senator Ashe, Republican party leaders from both houses and I stood with Senators Leahy and Sanders and Congressman Welch to protect Medicaid funding. Where else but Vermont would you see such a politically-diverse group joining together to defend access to healthcare?

Source: 2020 Vermont State of the State address , Jan 9, 2020

Not perfect but ACA measurably improved health of Vermonters

The ACA, while not perfect, measurably improved the health and well-being of Vermonters by expanding coverage, reducing the state's uninsured rates, enabling Vermont to form health care provider networks that participate in shared savings programs, and fostering initiatives to reduce utilization and cost through its health care delivery reform provisions.
Source: Gubernatorial press release for 2022 Vermont governor race , Jun 23, 2017

Replace dysfunctional Vermont Health Connect with subsidies

Q: How do you think Green Mountain Care should be financed?

Scott: The single-payer proposal under the Green Mountain Care plan was abandoned by the sitting governor in 2014. The models that experts were using indicated that the plan would require an 11.5% payroll tax. I believe the decision to abandon this model was the correct one, and continuing down that road would have generated further uncertainty in Vermont's economy. However, we need to continue to work on proven models that increase access and reduce costs. We need to move off the dysfunctional Vermont Health Connect, which costs millions each year. In 2006, when I was in the State Senate, I supported legislation which expanded access to health care by providing subsidies to uninsured Vermonters to purchase insurance on a sliding scale basis. The act also cut costs through healthy lifestyle discounts to those who participated in programs that improved wellness. Within two years, Vermont's uninsured rate declined by 25%.

Source: LWV's Vote411.org on 2016 Vermont Gubernatorial Race , Sep 19, 2016

Affordable health care? Yes; single-payer? No

Lt. Governor Phil Scott believes Vermont should have affordable health care that covers everyone. Unfortunately, the current system does not achieve these goals. Costs are too high and the peace of mind of having insurance is not available to everyone.

Advocates of single-payer health care, however, have not demonstrated how they will lower costs, guarantee coverage at all times for all medically necessary procedures, enhance the quality of care while preserving access to the doctor and hospital of one's choice, and strengthen the economy. In Lt. Governor Scott's view, these are the criteria that any credible reform plan must meet.

Source: 2016 Vermont Gubernatorial campaign website PhilScott.org , Sep 9, 2015

Other governors on Health Care: Phil Scott on other issues:
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Gubernatorial Debates 2023:
KY: Incumbent Andy Beshear(D)
vs.State A.G. Daniel Cameron(R)

vs.Ambassador Kelly Craft(R)
vs.State Auditor Mike Harmon(R)
LA: Incumbent John Bel Edwards(D,term-limited)
vs.Jeff Landry(R)
vs.Shawn Wilson(D)
vs.John Schroder(R)
vs.Sharon Hewitt(R)
MS: Incumbent Tate Reeves(R)
vs.Bill Waller(R,withdrew)
vs.Brandon Presley(D)

Gubernatorial Debates 2024:
DE: Gov. John Carney (D, term-limited);
Lt. Gov. Bethany Hall-Long (D)
vs. Matt Meyer (D)
IN: Gov. Eric Holcomb (R, term-limited);
Sen. Mike Braun (R)
vs. Suzanne Crouch (R)
vs. Jennifer McCormick (D)
MO: Gov. Mike Parson (R, term-limited):
Jay Ashcroft (R)
vs. Bill Eigel (R)
vs. Mike Kehoe (R)
vs. Crystal Quade (D)
MT: Gov. Greg Gianforte (R)
vs. Tanner Smith (R)
vs. Ryan Busse (D) 		Gubernatorial Debates 2024 (continued):
NC: Gov. Roy Cooper (D, term-limited);
Dale Folwell (R)
vs. Michael Morgan (D)
vs. Mark Robinson (R)
vs. Josh Stein (D)
vs. Andy Wells (R)
ND: Gov. Doug Burgum (R)
vs. State Rep. Rick Becker (R)
NH: Gov. Chris Sununu (R, retiring)
vs. Sen. Kelly Ayotte (R)
vs. Joyce Craig (D)
vs. Chuck Morse (R)
vs. Cinde Warmington (D)
UT: Gov. Spencer Cox (R)
vs. State Rep. Phil Lyman (R)
VT: Gov. Phil Scott (R) unopposed
WA: Gov. Jay Inslee (D, retiring);
Hilary Franz (D, withdrew)
vs. State Sen. Mark Mullet (D)
vs. County Chair Semi Bird (R)
vs. WA Attorney General Bob Ferguson (D)
WV: Gov. Jim Justice (R, term-limited);
vs. WV State Auditor JB McCuskey (R, withdrew)
vs. WV Secretary of State Mac Warner (R)
vs. State Del. Moore Capito (R)
vs. WV Attorney General Patrick Morrisey (R)
vs. Huntington Mayor Steve Williams (D) 		Abortion
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