Hearing on Medicare for All Furthers Push for Health Care as a Right
Public Citizen Experts Are Available to Explain How Medicare for All Would Cut Health Care Spending
WHAT: U.S. House of Representatives Budget Committee hearing to discuss approaches to obtaining Medicare for All, likely focusing on the Medicare for All Act of 2019 (H.R. 1384). The bill was introduced in February by U.S. Reps. Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.) and Debbie Dingell (D-Mich.) and more than 100 original co-sponsors.
Medicare for All would reduce health care spending for Americans and the country, according to a February Public Citizen report and a letter sent to Congress today by more than 200 U.S. economists. It would save middle-class families up to 14 percent compared to their current health care spending and would reduce health care administrative spending by $500 billion per year and pharmaceutical costs by $115 billion per year.
WHEN: 10 a.m. EDT, Wed., May 22
WHERE: Room 210, Cannon House Office Building 27 Independence Ave SE, Washington, D.C
LIVESTREAM: Will be available on the Budget Committee’s website.
WHO: For more than 40 years, Public Citizen has called for legislation that would guarantee health care for all. As Medicare for All gains more traction politically, Public Citizen experts (listed below) are available to answer questions about the economics of implementing Medicare for All and the political dynamics of the issue. They can speak about:
- Where funding for Medicare for All will come from;
- The transition of workers out of the private insurance industry;
- How Medicare for All can improve quality of care and access to care; and
- How to transfer recipients from employer-based insurance to single-payer.
Eagan Kemp, health care policy associate, ekemp@citizen.org, (202) 454-5109
Kemp can discuss the legislative aspects of Medicare for All and other health care proposals, including how it could be paid for, plan details and the implications for our health care system.
Kemp will submit testimony for the record for Wednesday’s hearing.
Melinda St. Louis, director, Public Citizen’s Medicare for All campaign, mstlouis@citizen.org, (202) 588-7763
St. Louis can discuss the growing grassroots movement for Medicare for All, including the push for local resolutions in support of the system and the increasing number of groups endorsing federal legislative efforts.
St. Louis will be at the hearing and available to talk to reporters.
“To have a second hearing on single-payer health care just a few weeks after the successful hearing on Medicare for All in the House Rules Committee highlights just how much momentum Medicare for All is generating both in Congress and around the country,” said St. Louis. “It is far past time to improve Medicare and finally expand it to everyone in America.”
Brittany Shannahan, Medicare for All organizer, bshannahan@citizen.org, (202) 588-7719
Shannahan can discuss the socioeconomic aspects of Medicare for All, including how it benefits women, minorities, people with disabilities and low-wage workers – as well as the factors behind its high popularity among young voters.
Robert Weissman, president
Weissman can discuss the momentum for Medicare for All and industry opposition to an approach that would deliver better care for all Americans at less cost.
Lisa Gilbert, vice president of legislative affairs, lgilbert@citizen.org, (202) 454-5188
Gilbert can discuss the view from Capitol Hill and the likely next steps for legislative progress on Medicare for All.