Dave á Jus#Nursing and hospital support staff workers in #Vermont are demanding implementation of the state's landmark 2011 Universal #Healthcare act as a mutual cornerstone of collective bargaining for both #labor contracts. This is a big deal.
Vermont's #Act48 established a system of universal access to health and medical services and the only open questions at the time were regarding the extent of ancillary, non-medical health services like transportation, fitness, preventive care and so forth, that the system would ensure, and how the private reimbursements-collection corporations would work with providers to guarantee their own full participation with the state.
Initially a promoter of the law, Governor Shumlin reneged on his support, and the mission of the Green Mountain Care Board, established as overseer in lieu of the legislature to piece together the plan, ensure universal access to it, and to promote full enrollment, has crept to governing the status quo which preserves the "Private Insurance Industry" monopoly over services. With the elimination of federal funding for marketplaces and effective scrapping of Medicaid in the state and, soon, fundamental Medicare coverage, the skyrocketing premiums for the private and now virtually necessary private coverage, services at regional hospitals are consolidating, and substantial numbers of people will be forced to abandon their healthcare.
The successor Governor Phil Scott has sidestepped leadership over legislative healthcare budget priorities, conveniently deflecting to the GMCB. They each must be held accountable. Scott just announced his candidacy for a sixth term.
Act 48 could be fully funded if only the out-of-state millionaire Vermont property owners paid a fair share of taxes. There is an ongoing, sustained tax revolt on the part of Vermont's wealthy, while two-thirds of residents are poor, or a single emergency away from entering poverty.
Tell UVM Health our community supports Common Good Bargaining
https://actionnetwork.org/petitions/tell-uvm-health-our-community-stands-together
PACSCL