Vermont's top health officer told lawmakers Thursday not to worry about a form of radiation emitted by the wireless smart meters some Vermont utilities want to install in customers' homes and businesses.

New projections by the state of Vermont say a public, universal health care system would cost between $8.2 billion and $9.5 billion a year roughly $13,000 to $14,000 per resident by 2020, but that sticking with the current system based on private insurers would cost even more.

Hospitals, doctors, drug companies, insurers and others with a stake in health care spent more than $750,000 lobbying at the Vermont Statehouse this year as lawmakers debated landmark legislation designed to put Vermont on the road toward universal health insurance.

Vermont is preparing to provide public health care to all residents regardless of income, moving toward a government-run system.