Health care ruling a win for Vermont, delegation says (Burlington Free Press)

June 28, 2012

By Erin Kelly

The Supreme Court’s ruling to uphold the Affordable Care Act ensures that Vermont will continue to receive tens of millions of federal dollars to advance its own health care reform efforts, members of the Vermont congressional delegation said Thursday.

Vermont already has received about $40 million to implement reforms as the state moves toward a universal, single-payer health care system. The state passed a law last year setting Vermont on a course for a single-payer system, but it depends heavily on federal funding and a federal waiver.

“This ruling puts wind at our back,” said Rep. Peter Welch, D-Vt. “This is critical financing assistance that we get through the Affordable Care Act. If the court had struck down the law, it would have made our efforts in Vermont much more difficult.”

Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., said the ruling represented “a good day for Vermont.”

“I voted for the Affordable Care Act, but my very strong hope is that Vermont will do better and that we will lead the nation in providing comprehensive health care to every man, woman and child,” Sanders said.

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