Burlington Free Press

In the last few weeks, I have participated in several Vermont health care forums, including a forum sponsored by Richmond legislators Anne O’Brien and Jim McCullough, and VPIRG. Thanks to these groups, I am learning how different communities feel about health care reform. People of Vermont understand the need for universal health care coverage for everyone in our state. And no one questions that rising health care costs, close to 20 percent of our state’s economy, cannot be sustained.

As a Vermont family doctor of close to 20 years, I feel strongly that Vermont needs to advance health care reform to a single payer system of care. I applaud the Green Mountain Care Board for taking on the task to get us there by 2017. With a single payer system, administrative hassles and waste will be decreased. Doctors, both specialists and primary care physicians, can spend more time caring for patients from birth to a respectful and honored death. Prevention, public health measures and shared decision making between patient and doctors will improve healthcare and cuts costs.
I urge all Vermonters to request health care reform forums in their communities.

PEGGY CAREY
Burlington

Dr. Peggy Carey is chairwoman of VT Physicians for a National Health Program.