For more information on our issues...

2009 Legislative Agenda & Talking Points

Studies show that lack of adequate insurance affects cancer outcomes. To win the fight against cancer, all Vermonters should have access to affordable, quality health care. There remains over 47,000 uninsured Vermonters, and many more whose insurance fails to provide adequate or affordable coverage when they are diagnosed with an illness such as cancer.  

·       The Ask:  Keep the Catamount Health promise made to Vermonters that ensures access to affordable and quality health care.

§       Do not freeze Catamount enrollment or eliminate Catamount Health, which gives Vermonters access to affordable and quality health care.  There are still 47, 286 uninsured Vermonters who are more likely to be diagnosed with advanced cancer, which requires more invasive treatment and is more often fatal. 

§       Eliminate the pre-existing conditions clause, which prevents cancers patients from getting health insurance at a time when they need it most by excluding individuals with cancer from coverage for one year under Catamount Health.

Breast Cancer:    420 Vermont women will be diagnosed with breast cancer this year; more than 90 will die – many of them simply because they lacked access to early detection screening.   Early detection through screening saves lives, yet people without health insurance are half as likely as those with private insurance to receive these screenings. Ladies First is Vermont’s Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program, which offers free life-saving breast and cervical cancer screenings and post-diagnostic services to low-income and uninsured women.  Though other states provide funding for their breast and cervical cancer screening programs, Vermont’s legislature does not provide any state money to Ladies First, which relies primarily on federal funding. It is essential that this program is not cut or eliminated since it offers a critical safety net for vulnerable women.

• The Ask: Protect the Ladies First program; do not cut or eliminate this program as it offers a critical safety net for vulnerable women.
• Increase funding for Ladies First by $125, 000, which would allow the program to reach and screen an additional 225 women for breast cancer. This amount represents only 0.01 percent of the total state general fund budget.

Colon Cancer:  Colon cancer is the third most commonly diagnosed cancer in Vermont, with over 300 diagnoses annually. Colonoscopies are proven to increase a person’s survival by catching polyps early before they become cancerous. A significant amount of Vermonters are being diagnosed with late stage cancer, we need to improve access to screenings. The real tragedy is that many colon cancer deaths occur needlessly, as they could be prevented with regular screenings.   Colonoscopies can cost $3,000 for an individual living in Vermont and often insurance only covers a portion of the costs forcing many to pay substantial amounts out-of-pocket.

;

• The Ask: In order to increase colorectal cancer screening rates we must improve individuals’ access to these screenings by removing cost-related barriers which are prohibitive; ensure that all insurance carriers offer the full range of colorectal caner screenings.
• Cap the co-payment and co-insurance to not exceed $15, and by prohibiting the application of a deductible.

Smoking is Vermont’s #1 cause of preventable death, killing more than 800 Vermonters each year; more people than alcohol, AIDS, car accidents, illegal drugs, murders and suicides combined. Smoking related illnesses costs the state millions in annual health care costs, and lost productivity. Though Vermont’s deficit situation has the legislature and Administration looking for places to cut funding, doing so to the Tobacco Control Program would be pennywise and pound foolish given the health care savings it is realizing. The program has successfully led to a savings of $4-$5 million per year in Medicaid expenses alone. The program must remain adequately funded to ensure those Vermonters who want to quit can and to prevent our youth from ever picking up the habit

• The Ask: Protect the Tobacco Trust Fund; ensure no further funds are taken from it so that it maintains its integrity, and to create a sustainable funding source in the future.  Chipping away at the Trust Fund puts future funding of the Tobacco Control Program at risk. 
• Protect funding of Vermont’s Tobacco Control Program from any budget reductions proposed in the Governor’s budget.