MONTPELIER, Vt.—The Vermont Senate has approved health reform legislation that is slightly scaled back from a sweeping House version passed last month but still seeks universal coverage in the state by 2009.

The Senate version calls for providing primary and preventive care coverage for all Vermont residents by July 2006, rather than by 2007 as prescribed in H. 524. The Senate bill also calls for hospital coverage for all Vermont residents by 2009, the same as the House version.

However, the Senate version would not expand coverage unless a series of cost-containment measures begin reducing the health care inflation rate in the state and a series of economic studies show services can be provided without harming the state's economy.

Both the House and Senate plans would be financed by broad-based taxes, and cost-sharing would be applied with deductibles and co-payments based on participants' ability to pay.

Vermont lawmakers estimate the state has more than 60,000 uninsured residents.