The Health Care Committee approved a bill on Friday, which would overhaul the whole health care system in Vermont.

The Senate Health and Welfare Committee, which is headed by Sen. Doug Racine, voted 6-0 to approve the bill. The approved bill strives to design three models for the state's health care system, one of them being a single-payer health care system.

Racine, who is a Chittenden Democrat and gubernatorial candidate, is of the opinion that the main aim of the bill, "is to hire outside consultants to fully design three new health care models", which will then be brought to the Vermont Legislature and the Governor in 2011.

Racine believes that the revamped health care system will ensure universal access for Vermonters, besides being affordable, ensuring quality of care, and enabling cost savings over the current health care system.

The bill's next stop would be the Senate Appropriations Committee, after which it will find its way for a full vote to the body's floor.

The committee that approved the bill includes votes by Democrats, Republicans and also a Progressive. Racine said, "We are striving for tri-partisan support for the legislation".