The chairman of the healthcare committee in the Vermont House of Representatives has proposed legislation that would prohibit hospitals from spending on advertising and marketing, according to a report by the Burlington Free Press.
The proposal by State Rep. Steve Maier (D-Middlebury) has support from a Republican, Sen. Kevin Mullin (R-Rutland), a member of the Senate Health and Welfare Committee.
Hospital ads are "competing for business," Mr. Maier said. "I think it's appropriate to question whether our not-for-profit system needs to compete."
However, the Vermont Association of Hospitals and Health Systems has raised questions about what constitutes advertising, whether a ban would violate free-speech guarantees and whether there would be unintended consequences.
Read the Burlington Free Press' report on Vermont hospital advertising.
The proposal by State Rep. Steve Maier (D-Middlebury) has support from a Republican, Sen. Kevin Mullin (R-Rutland), a member of the Senate Health and Welfare Committee.
Hospital ads are "competing for business," Mr. Maier said. "I think it's appropriate to question whether our not-for-profit system needs to compete."
However, the Vermont Association of Hospitals and Health Systems has raised questions about what constitutes advertising, whether a ban would violate free-speech guarantees and whether there would be unintended consequences.
Read the Burlington Free Press' report on Vermont hospital advertising.