An eye-opening analysis by Physicians for a National Health Program (PHNP):

"We support Vermont’s effort to bring relief from physical and financial suffering for its residents. We encourage Vermont to move forward with policies that would bring them as close as possible to a single payer system. We encourage the people of Vermont and of the entire nation to elect individuals who will enact the federal legislation that would ensure health care justice for all – a single payer national health program.

Why did the PNHP board believe that we had to make a statement on the deficiencies of the Vermont effort? It is simply because the citizens of our nation are not keeping their eyes on the ball. Supporters of reform have been distracted by efforts to try to made ACA [Affordable Care Act = federal Health Care Reform] work, and by state-level efforts to try to get us closer to single payer. The ball we need to watch is comprehensive affordable care for everyone through true single payer reform. All of us must direct our attention and efforts to that above all else, even though we should continue to support state efforts in the interim that would provide some temporary relief before we can get to the national health program that we need."
Source: http://www.pnhp.org/news/2011/april/vermont-health-bill-mislabeled-single-payer-doctors-group

Indeed, taking a closer look at the Vermont House health care bill (H.202), not much is left from the original single payer health-care concept. There is no mention of delivery and reimbursement which is so important to single payer. Instead, you will find sections that tolerate the presence of private insurers which is outrageous! Right? There is no way Vermont can save as long as private insurers reap all the benefits.

However, what PNHP fails to mention is that the government of Vermont said that this is only one of many bills that will path the way to true single payer health care. There are hundreds of local, state and federal health programs that need to be restructured or united before one can switch from the public-private mess to a well-functioning universal health care system. I recommend reading the summary of the bill, the Q&A and the article "SHUMLIN’S BILL: The Glass Is Half Full by Ethan Parkeon" (Link below) on the site Vermont for Single Payer. Vermont is the most progressive state in the union and they have laid out the plan. Single payer health care will be law of the land by 2017 or 2014 when Congress manages to pass a state waiver.

SHUMLIN’S BILL: The Glass Is Half Full:
http://vermontforsinglepayer.org/blog/2011/03/shumlins-bill-the-glass-is-half-full/