Vermont for Single Payer

07/02/2025

07/02/2025

https://www.managedhealthcareexecutive.com/view/84-of-healthcare-leaders-worried-about-business-conditions-survey-says
“Most (84%) of healthcare finance leaders are worried about business conditions, according to the results of the recent Deloitte Center for Health Solutions sixth annual survey of United States Healthcare CFOs. Additional worries reported by leaders include healthcare affordability for consumers (81%) and concerns about revenue growth and operating profitability (73%).
“These findings mark a shift from the December 2024 survey data from Deloitte, in which healthcare leaders showed more optimism in their 2025 predictions. Then, 71% of healthcare leaders expected improved industry profitability and 69% of leaders anticipated a rise in revenue in 2025.
“Concerns over external factors—such as regulatory changes, tariffs and supply chain disruptions—now outweigh internal issues like workforce challenges, cost reduction and cybersecurity, which had ranked among the top five concerns for the past four or five years of the survey.”

This latest data is a change from previous survey answers, in which 71% of healthcare leaders expected improved profitability and 69% of leaders anticipated a rise in revenue in 2025, according to combined data from the Deloitte Center for Health Solutions.

07/01/2025

https://www.manchesterjournal.com/news/local/single-payer-plan-not-radical/article_f397a36c-bddb-563c-91c8-5b4575330c68.html
“For an idea that opponents consistently mischaracterize as "radical" and destructive of freedom, [single payer] certainly has some strong support from mainstream folks.
“Start with passage of [Vermont’s] law. Do you really think your Vermont state senators and representatives are wild-eyed radicals? How about the League of Women Voters of Vermont, which strongly endorsed single-payer universal health care reform after a two-year study? And doctors: Does radicalism explain why so many doctors in other states told the Physicians for a National Health Program (PNHP) that they would consider moving to Vermont if it had a single payer program?
“The scare tactics bother me, but what really burns me is my belief that the scare campaign is significantly funded by insurers. We can't know for certain because the groups opposing reform don't have to disclose the source of their funds, but I personally have no doubt. Which means that some portion of that huge health insurance premium you face every month is used not to provide you benefits, but to prevent you from getting more reasonable care at more reasonable costs.
Think about that when you open the next insurer's bill and stare at that huge amount of money.
Who is foisting what on an unsuspecting public? Who is the radical? Who is destroying our freedom?

To the Editor:

06/30/2025

https://www.marketplace.org/story/2025/06/26/why-health-care-is-only-getting-more-expensive
“The national price tag for health care — that’s public and private spending — is only growing. New government estimates show it will reach more than 20% of GDP by 2033. That’s up from around 17% in 2023.
…
“Health care spending is expected to outpace GDP growth in the coming years at least through 2033, according to new estimates by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. One reason why?
“We do see the baby boomers retiring,” said Benjamin Ukert, an assistant professor with Texas A&M University.
“As the silver tsunami ages, ‘people will utilize more health care,’ he said.
“Treatment is also getting pricier, and you have to factor in the cost of health innovation, per MIT economist Jonathan Gruber. ‘We're just inventing cool new stuff that costs more money.’”

National spending on health care will surpass 20% of GDP by 2033, up from 17.6% in 2023, according to new government estimates.

06/29/2025

https://www.marketplace.org/story/2025/06/30/support-grows-for-more-insurance-coverage-of-breast-cancer-screenings
“If doctors can catch breast cancer early enough, the chances of survival are about 90%.
“In order to catch it early enough, women over the age of 40 usually get annual mammograms — paid for by their health insurance.
“For roughly half of those women, however, mammograms have a hard time detecting cancer — they have dense breast tissue that requires additional screening. Those screenings aren’t always covered by insurance.”

More than two dozen states now have laws requiring health insurance plans to cover the tests. Now, Congress may get involved, too.

06/28/2025

https://ohiocapitaljournal.com/2025/06/18/ohio-based-hospital-chain-said-to-profiteer-from-massive-charity-care-program/
“Cincinnati-based Bon Secours Mercy Health describes itself as a ‘ministry’ that seeks to serve ‘the poor, dying and underserved.’
“However, it’s one of two Ohio ‘nonprofit’ hospital systems to face scrutiny from Congress over the huge amounts it’s raking in from a federal program meant to subsidize care for the poor.
“It’s using some of that money to pay lavish salaries and buy stadium-naming rights. Meanwhile, it is reportedly boosting the bottom line by serving wealthy communities and neglecting poorer ones — an outcome that, if true, would directly counter the program’s intent.”

Cincinnati-based Bon Secours Mercy Health describes itself as a "ministry" that seeks to serve "the poor, dying and underserved." However, it's one of two Ohio "nonprofit" hospital systems to face scrutiny from Congress over the huge amounts it's raking in from a federal program meant for the poor.

06/27/2025

https://www.cnbc.com/2025/06/23/big-beautiful-bill-health-care-cuts-may-add-to-medical-debts-report.html
“Proposed health-care cuts in the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” may prompt millions of Americans to lose health coverage, according to Congressional Budget Office estimates.
“That could push medical debt up by $50 billion, a new report from think tank Third Way finds.
“The number of people in families facing medical debt could increase by 5.4 million, with debts increasing by up to $22,800.”

The Republican bill and failure to extend existing programs may prompt about 16 million Americans to lose health-care coverage. Medical debts may climb higher.