In response to Dr. Nat Mulkey’s recent commentary, “It’s time for a new narrative on the UVM Health Network vs. Green Mountain Care Board dispute,” all I can say is that I wholeheartedly agree with Dr. Mulkey on the need for a new narrative. I am also not a health care economist, whatever that is, but like everyone else in Vermont, I know that it is way past time for a new outlook. Unfortunately, Dr. Mulkey’s commentary does not provide such a new perspective. He seems to be completely mystified by why the Green Mountain Care Board won’t just let the UVM Health Network do whatever it wants to, irrespective of our ability to pay for it.READ MORE An example of this is Dr. Mulkey’s statement, “Truthfully, I also am over hearing red-herring blame related to executive pay.” I speak as both a patient and as a working Vermonter, living by that hourly wage. This is no “red herring” for us who have to pay these salaries through these hospital “fees,” insurance premiums and state taxes. UVMHN’s cutting of patient services that we need and not its excessively bloated CEO pay is disingenuous at best. Regardless of the performance of these CEOs, which can certainly be debated, it shows a remarkable insensitivity to the average Vermonter that, as of this writing, the top brass was unwilling to reduce their lavish six-and-seven-figure compensation packages by even a penny to at least share in the sacrifices we all have to make now. Meanwhile, our costs faithfully go up every year. Many Vermonters work as hard as these executives, if not harder, often by stacking together two or even three jobs. We are real people too, and not just “health care consumers.” This should start off that new narrative.Walter Carpenter MontpelierRead the story on VTDigger here: Walter Carpenter: CEO pay is no red herring in the health care debate.