Vermont Governor Jim Douglas today announced the creation of a Health Care Cabinet, to help coordinate Vermont’s nationally recognized health reform initiatives across several agencies and departments and to help implement any health reforms that may be enacted at the federal level in the near future.  The Cabinet will be comprised of representatives from agencies and departments with jurisdiction over health care services, policy, regulation and implementation, among other responsibilities.“The Health Care Cabinet provides an excellent opportunity to continue to build on Vermont’s successes in the health care arena – to identify efficiencies and new, creative ideas to help Vermont residents.  Collaboration across state government will be especially critical as we work to analyze the impact of and plan for the implementation of any national health care reforms.  I’m pleased to have such a great team of people working together on this important issue,” said Governor Douglas.Governor Douglas has appointed as co-chairs of the Cabinet Dr. Susan Besio, Director of Health Care Reform and Director of the Office of Vermont Health Access, and Heidi Tringe, Secretary of Civil and Military Affairs.  “I want to thank Susan and Heidi for taking on this important task.” Douglas continued.  “This is an efficient way for us to ensure that we are communicating regularly as federal reforms move through Washington.” Meetings will be held monthly beginning in November. Topics of discussion will include an analysis of federal health reform proposals and the impact of the economic downturn on health care. The Governor signed an Executive Order (EO) last week creating the cabinet, and the text of the EO is copied below.Source: Governor’s office. 10.20.2009. read more