While Vineyarders await a legislative vote needed to make the Island
Health Plan (IHP) a reality, some Island health officials are already
worrying about the impact of the new affordable insurance program on
existing Island medical services.

The Island Health Plan, which seeks to provide affordable health
insurance for many of the estimated 3,000 Islanders now living without
it, is poised to win legislative approval that will enable the nonprofit
group to begin work this spring.

Now that the Island Health Plan has received a green light from
officials on Beacon Hill, leaders of this grassroots affordable
insurance program must turn their attention home - enlisting
doctors and Island business owners to sign on to this experimental
project.

"We all want this to work. Now is the time for all the players
to translate their words into action," said Tad Crawford, chairman
of the Dukes County Health Council.

The state legislature has given final approval to the Island Health
Plan to make use of millions of dollars in state subsidies for the
grassroots health insurance initiative.

After more than a year of inching toward legislative approval, this
week's senate override vote gives the needed clearance to begin
offering low-rate insurance to Islanders without it.