Douglas creates Health Cabinet

Neal Goswami

Oct. 21, 2009 (McClatchy-Tribune Regional News delivered by Newstex) -- BENNINGTON -- Gov. James Douglas has created a Health Care Cabinet to help the state implement reforms that may be passed in Congress.

The cabinet, announced Tuesday, will also help coordinate the state's health reform initiatives that involve several state agencies and departments. It will be comprised of representatives from agencies and departments that have jurisdiction over health care services, policy, regulation and implementation, Douglas said.

"The Health Care Cabinet provides an excellent opportunity to continue to build on Vermont's successes in the health care arena -- to identify efficiencies and new, creative ideas to help Vermont residents," Douglas said. "Collaboration across state government will be especially critical as we work to analyze the impact of and plan for the implementation of any national health care reforms. I'm pleased to have such a great team of people working together on this important issue."

President Barack Obama has made health care reform his top domestic priority. Both chambers of Congress are currently drafting reform measures that must eventually be molded into one if reforms are to be implemented. Proposed reforms could mean big changes for states.

Douglas said he has appointed Dr. Susan Besio, the state's director of health care reform and the director of the Office of Vermont Health Access, as well as Heidi Tringe, secretary of Civil and Military Affairs, as co-chairwomen of the

group.

"I want to thank Susan and Heidi for taking on this important task," Douglas said. "This is an efficient way for us to ensure that we are communicating regularly as federal reforms move through Washington."

The health care cabinet will include the Agency of Human Services secretary, as well as the commissioners of several departments within AHS. The executive order, signed by Douglas last week, is set to expire in June 2011.

Douglas said the cabinet will begin holding monthly meetings in November and will begin to analyze federal health reform proposals in floating in Congress. The group will also study the impact of the economic downturn on health care in Vermont, he said.

Douglas spokeswoman Dennise Casey said Monday that the cabinet does not have a budget, and members will receive no additional salary or stipend. Any necessary administrative support will be provided by the Agency of Human Service or the governor's office, according to Casey.

Contact Neal P. Goswami at ngoswami@benningtonbanner.com

Newstex ID: KRTB-0480-39018077