Haas Protected
Most Vulnerable

As a senior advocate and case manager working in Central Vermont for the past nine years, I strongly endorse the reëlection of Sandy Haas as state representative. Her work on the House Human Services Committee is strong evidence of her concern for the elder and younger disabled adult population.

Her committee was involved in all aspects of the transition to Medicare D prescription drug coverage. In 2005 they held numerous committee meetings with people from OVHA (Office of Vermont Health Access) regarding the impact of the new federal law, especially its preëmption of Vermont’s very successful state drug program.

In their concern for how seniors would learn about the new program, they repeatedly asked for details of OVHA’s plan to educate and counsel the 30,000 Vermonters who relied on the state program. To avoid the penalty, they insisted that all beneficiaries who were current under any of the state drug programs be automatically enrolled in Part D.

This committee made a policy decision that Vermonters be held harmless from any possible reduction in benefits (from co-pays, the donut hole, etc.), and to that end drafted and passed H.524 providing for a state "wrap around" of the Part D prescription coverage. That bill became law as part of the 2005 budget bill (Act 71).

In January 2006 the committee responded immediately to remedy the Medicare D crisis, which was created when the federal program stumbled at the starting gate, with immediate legislation that reverted to the state drug plan. For the rest of the session they spent every single Wednesday morning in committee with the Director of OVHA, tracking the state’s progress to protect Vermont citizens from any harm caused by Medicare D and its complicated transition.

Further, this committee worked for an entire month in 2005 to revamp and improve the law regarding Advance Directives (formerly known as Living Wills or Durable Powers of Attorney for Health Care). Sandy personally worked long hours on this bill and prepared the summary for presentation on the floor. The committee also worked on long-term care issues, proper oversight of guardianships, and many issues related to Medicaid coverage.

In summary, the work of Rep. Sandy Haas clearly demonstrates that protection of Vermont’s more vulnerable population is her priority.

Kathryn Schenkman

Rochester