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Showing Original Post only (View all)Democrat To Offer A ‘Lifeline’ For Single-Payer Health Care [View all]
http://thinkprogress.org/health/2012/05/25/490429/mcdermott-universal-care-romney/Democrat To Offer A Lifeline For Single-Payer Health Care
By Igor Volsky on May 25, 2012 at 3:30 pm
Rep. Jim McDermott (D-WA) will soon introduce legislation that would allow states to use federal funds theyre receiving through Medicare, Medicaid, and other health care programs to build a universal single-payer system. Advocates are describing the bill as a lifeline for advocates:
It would create a mechanism for states to request federal funds after establishing their own health insurance programs
. It would, for the first time, create a system under which a Medicare-for-all program could be rolled out on a state-by-state basis. In Californias case, it would make coverage available to the roughly 7 million people now lacking health insurance.
This is a huge deal, said Jamie Court, president of Consumer Watchdog, a Santa Monica advocacy group. This is a lifeline for people who want to create a Medicare system at the state level.
This is a huge deal, said Jamie Court, president of Consumer Watchdog, a Santa Monica advocacy group. This is a lifeline for people who want to create a Medicare system at the state level.
The bill could warm the hearts of liberals who expressed frustration with the Affordable Care Acts more moderate approach of building on the existing health care system and should also satisfy GOP presidential candidate Mitt Romney. The former Massachusetts governor has sought to differentiate his 2006 health reform from Obamacare by rejecting a federal prescription for reform and promising to pursue policies that give each state the power to craft a health care reform plan that is best for its own citizens.
The ACA creates state flexibility by granting waivers to states that meet certain coverage standards and a bipartisan group of lawmakers has offered legislation expanding the provision by allowing states with innovative health care solutions to opt out of certain provisions beginning in 2014. Romney, meanwhile, has pledged to build on the ACAs flexibility and grant states to the ability to opt out of the law entirely.
McDermotts measure would go even further and encourage states to repurpose federal funds to build a universal single-payer health system of their own. If Republicans are truly interested in states rights, they will back it in mass.
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The red states have been defunding everything they can get their hands on. How much of this
jwirr
May 2012
#40
We have had this in the works for a long time. If it passes the Senate how likely is it to pass the
jwirr
May 2012
#41
He needs more people in Congress to help. He can't do it alone, but he never gives up...
freshwest
May 2012
#43
"Don't get sick, and if you do get sick, die quickly" is the only plan the GOP will support. nt
cstanleytech
May 2012
#13