Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that requires the creation of Vermont health care system design options, expands the Blueprint for Health program, limits hospital budget increases, requires reporting of free prescription sample give-aways, and enacts other amendments to health care laws.

Highlights:

-Requires that by February, 1 2011 one or more consultants of the joint legislative commission on health care reform propose to the General Assembly and the Governor at least 3 design options, including implementation plans, for creating a single system of health care which gives all Vermonters access to and coverage for "affordable, quality health services" through a public or private single-payer or multi-payer system (Sec. 6) -Specifies that one of the aforementioned design options shall design a government-administered and publicly financed "single payer" system that is not dependent upon employment and that only allows private insurance coverage of health services that are supplemental to this system, one option shall design a public health benefit option administered by state government that allows individuals to choose between a public option and private insurance coverage, and one option shall design a system based on Vermont's current health care reform initiatives and on the new federal insurance exchange, insurance regulatory provisions, and other provisions in the federal "Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010" (Sec. 6). -Requires each design option to include the following components (Sec. 6):

-A payment system for health services that includes one or more packages of health services providing for the integration of physical and mental health, a process for determining payment amounts, and cost reduction and containment mechanisms; -Coordinated local delivery systems; -Health system planning, regulation, and public health; -Financing and proposals to maximize federal funding; and -A method to address compliance of the proposed design option or options with federal law.

-Requires the Director of the Blueprint for Health program to convene an expansion design and evaluation committee to provide recommendations relating to the statewide implementation of the Blueprint for Health, which includes the following initiatives (Sec. 13):

-Technical assistance for a patient-centered medical home, community health teams, and a model for uniform payment for health services; -A collaboration with Vermont information technology leaders to assist in the creation of a statewide infrastructure of health information technology to expand the use of electronic medical records; -The development, maintenance, and promotion of evidence-based, nationally recommended guidelines for greater commonality, consistency, and coordination across health insurers in care management programs and systems; -The adoption and maintenance of clinical quality and performance measures to be used to assess and evaluate the impact of the Blueprint for health and cost outcomes; -The adoption and maintenance of clinical quality and performance measures for pain management, palliative care, and hospice care; and -The use of surveys to measure satisfaction levels of patients, health care professionals, and health care providers participating in the Blueprint.

-Requires that, no later than January 1, 2011, health insurers participate in the Blueprint for Health program as a condition of doing business in Vermont, and exempts insurers that only offer benefit plans that are paid directly to the individual insured or assigned beneficiaries and for which the benefit amount is not based upon potential medical costs or actual costs incurred (Sec. 13). -Requires that, no later than July 1, 2011, hospitals participate in the Blueprint for Health program by creating or maintaining connectivity to Vermont's health information exchange network (Sec. 13). -Directs the Commissioner of Vermont Health Care Access to expand the Blueprint for Health to at least 2 primary care practices in every hospital services area by no later than July 1, 2011 and statewide to primary care practices who wish to participate no later than October 1, 2013 (Sec. 19). -Directs the Commissioner of Banking, Insurance, Securities, and Health Care Administration to target hospital budgets consistent with the following (Sec. 20):

-For fiscal years 2010-2011 and 2011-2012, the Commissioner shall aim to minimize rate increases for hospitals and shall ensure that the systemwide increase will be lower than the previous year's increase; -For fiscal year 2010-2011, the total systemwide net patient revenue increase for all hospitals reviewed by the Commissioner shall not exceed 4.5 percent; and -For fiscal year 2011-2012, the total systemwide net patient revenue increase for all hospitals reviewed by the Commissioner shall not exceed 4.0 percent.

-Requires that, annually on or before October 1 of each year, each manufacturer of prescribed products shall disclose to the Office of the Attorney General all free samples of prescribed products, including starter packs, provided to health care providers during the fiscal year ending the previous June 30, and specifies that for each sample the product, recipient, number of units, and dosage must be identified (Sec. 33).

Full Bill Text