A debate over health care reform grew to its most passionate when Vermont senators turned to an amendment dealing with high school athletes who suffer concussions during games.
Monday’s debate ended with the Senate giving preliminary approval to a bill earlier passed by the House that sets up a health care exchange in compliance with the federal Affordable Care Act of 2010.
But the House-passed version contained a provision with a standard saying coaches need only to have reason to believe a student athlete has suffered a concussion before pulling him or her out of a game. Sen. Dick Sears wanted to change that standard to the coach needing to have actual knowledge of a concussion.
Compromise language is expected to be added before final passage of the bill.