It’s barely a year old, but concern is growing that Vermont’s Catamount Health program of subsidized medical insurance could fall victim to budget cuts.
Senate President Pro Tem Peter Shumlin, D-Windham, highlighted that concern recently when he said the program is not sustainable without more federal assistance.
But he also says he doesn’t want to see the state eliminate Catamount, for which it budgeted $19.2 million this year.
Other lawmakers say they’ll fight to preserve the program as well. Democratic Rep. Steve Maier of Middlebury – chairman of the House Health Care Committee – says programs like Catamount are needed more than ever during tough economic times.