Press Releases
Read the latest information and announcements about Green Mountain Care.
For all media and press inquiries please contact Susan Besio at (802) 828-0566 or susan.besio@state.vt.us.
Vermont healthiest state in country -- Governor highlights health care reforms, says more to be done
Official Website for Jim Douglas, Governor of Vermont, November 5, 2007
Montpelier, Vt. — A non-profit health advocacy group, working with the American Public Health Association and Partnership for Prevention, has ranked Vermont the healthiest state in the country, the office of Governor Jim Douglas announced today.
The ranking lists each state on 20 measures of wellness, including high school graduation, obesity and infant mortality rates, their focus on preventive medicine and wellness and the percentage of residents with health insurance. Full Text
Governor Douglas introduces comprehensive family of health coverage options for uninsured Vermonters
Official Website for Jim Douglas, Governor of Vermont, November 1, 2007
RUTLAND, Vt. – Gov. Jim Douglas (R-VT) and members of the Vermont General Assembly today announced Green Mountain Care, the comprehensive family of low-cost and free health coverage programs for uninsured Vermonters. The newest program under Green Mountain Care is the much-anticipated Catamount Health which opened for enrollment on October 1, 2007. Other programs include the well-known Dr. Dynasaur program for uninsured kids, Vermont Health Access Plan (VHAP), Medicaid and Prescription Assistance programs.
“Green Mountain Care represents the most comprehensive package of health coverage options the state has ever seen,” said Governor Jim Douglas. “While we are very proud that more than 90 percent of Vermonters have health coverage, it is a top priority to offer everyone in our state access to affordable insurance.” Full Text
AARP recognizes Vermont’s landmark health care reforms as ‘the most progressive’ in the country -- Governor accepts award on state’s behalf
Official Website for Jim Douglas, Governor of Vermont, December 19, 2006
New York, NY – Governor Jim Douglas yesterday was honored by AARP for his work to reach an agreement on health care reform with the Vermont Legislature last year.
"As a Republican governor faced with a solidly Democratic legislature, Governor Jim Douglas could have succumbed to the inevitable gridlock that often mires tough issues," AARP noted. "But in May, after two years of negotiations, Douglas signed the most progressive health care law in the country, making affordable health insurance available to everyone in the state of Vermont." Full Text
Governor signs comprehensive health care reform legislation
Official Website for Jim Douglas, Governor of Vermont, May 25, 2006
Montpelier, Vt. — Governor Jim Douglas today signed health care reform legislation that launches aggressive cost containment provisions for Vermonters with health insurance and extends affordable insurance coverage to those currently without it.
Governor Douglas, who praised legislators for their work, said this was a shared victory for the people of Vermont. "We have taken extraordinary, even historic, steps toward achieving our goals of providing universal access to affordable health insurance for all Vermonters, improving quality and containing costs, and promoting healthy behavior and disease prevention across the entire lifespan through the Chronic Care Initiative," the Governor said. "These are responsible, commonsense reforms that will dramatically improve our health care system, aggressively contain costs and extend coverage to those currently without it, without undermining Vermont’s economic security." Full Text
