Vermont Governor Wants More Time on Health Plan

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Credit WAMC

Vermont Statehouse

The administration of Vermont Governor Peter Shumlin says it wants more time to firm up the financing for a single-payer health plan to be in place by 2017.

A health care law passed two years ago gave the administration until this month to develop a financing plan. But hopes were then for a federal waiver that would allow the planned Green Mountain Care program to start in 2014. That waiver hasn't been forthcoming, pushing the date back three years.

Administration officials are saying they expect the plan will save money for Vermont and its health care consumes, in part because of increasing federal outlays helping the state pay for the cost of care.

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