The U.S. Supreme Court decision on the Affordable Care Act is welcomed in Vermont, where efforts to transition to a single payer system relies on funding in the law.
Vermont is trying to build the first single payer health care system in the country. Governor Peter Shumlin says the Supreme Court decision means the state will be able to use 400-million dollars a year in federal subsidies to help pay for low and middle income insurance programs.
Green Mountain Care Board Chair Anya Rader Wallach says the ruling is good news and gives the state a green light and more certainty on what federal resources are available as they move forward with health care reforms.
Vermont Businesses for Social Responsibility Public Policy Manager Dan Barlow says the ruling connects efforts to create a single payer system in Vermont.
Vermonters for Health Care Freedom is against a single payer system in Vermont. Executive Director Jeffrey Wennberg says he has mixed feelings about the Supreme Court decision on the federal Affordable Care Act.
Vermont Congressman Peter Welch released a statement noting that with the Supreme Court decision now issued, both Republicans and Democrats should set aside their differences and make the law “work for the American people”.