Medicare for All in the Spotlight at Tuesday Hearing; Public Citizen Experts Available to Explain Why It Is the Only Viable Health Care System

Medicare for All is getting another hearing this week from the U.S. House Committee on Energy and Commerce's health subcommittee. The hearing, scheduled for 10:30 a.m. Tuesday in 2322 Rayburn House Office Building, is titled, "Proposals to Achieve Universal Health Care Coverage." It follows hearings earlier this year held by the Rules, Budget, and Ways and Means committees.

An expanded and improved Medicare for All system would guarantee that everyone in the U.S. can get the comprehensive health care they need, without out-of-pocket costs or insurance companies getting between them and their doctors. It would cost no more than our current system while improving coverage for everyone, eliminating copays and deductibles, and giving people full choice of their doctors and hospitals.

The Medicare for All Act of 2019 (H.R. 1384), sponsored by U.S. Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.), has 118 co-sponsors and enjoys wide support among the American public.

Public Citizen is working on all fronts to advance Medicare for All. We have researchers exposing corporate greed, grassroots lobbyists pushing for change and staffers on Capitol Hill talking to lawmakers. They can:

• Explain the costs and savings of a Medicare for All system, and how it would restructure our health care system to provide care for all and save money. (See also this recent piece by two economics professors.);
• Explain why a public option is not a viable alternative; and
• Detail how state and local officials are increasingly backing Medicare for All to stop the predatory practices that private health insurance companies routinely employ and that bankrupt families or prevent people from seeking necessary care.

Our experts include:

Robert Weissman, president
Weissman can discuss the built-in systemic failures of America's for-profit health care system, as well as how Americans pay more - roughly double - for failing health care than other wealthy countries do for systems that cover all citizens.

Eagan Kemp, health care policy advocate

Kemp can discuss the legislative aspects of Medicare for All, including how it could be paid for, plan details and the implications for our health care system.

Melinda St. Louis, Medicare for All campaign director

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 rising number of groups endorsing federal legislative efforts.

Lisa Gilbert, vice president of legislative affairs, Public Citizen

Gilbert can discuss the view from the Capitol Hill and the likely next steps for legislative progress on Medicare for All.

To be connected to a health care expert for comment, please contact Mike Stankiewicz at mstankiewicz@citizen.org.