When Vermont hospitals generate unexpected revenue, the state should take at least half of that money to support a universal primary care initiative, a key senator said on Tuesday.
Sen. Claire Ayer, D-Addison, chairwoman of the Senate Health and Welfare Committee, introduced the idea of a hospital “reinvestment contribution” as one possible funding mechanism for a proposed system of publicly financed primary care.
Ayer acknowledged that larger — and still unidentified — funding sources will be needed to operate such a system. But she said redirecting excess hospital revenue was a legitimate way to cover some related expenses….