"One thing nurses will never take a break from--fighting for guaranteed healthcare for all!" National Nurses United tweeted. (Image: National Nurses United)
Apr 24, 2019
In what grassroots activists celebrated as a "historic step" toward a just healthcare system that places the needs of patients over corporate profits, the House Rules Committee announced late Tuesday that it will hold the first-ever congressional hearing on Medicare for All next week.
"There is no other developed country on the face of the Earth that has a healthcare system that is as fragmented and costly as ours."
--Rep. Pramila Jayapal
"I'm proud to announce this historic hearing on Medicare for All legislation," Rep. Jim McGovern (D-Mass.), chairman of the Rules Committee, said in a statement. "I'm a proud co-sponsor of this bill. It's a serious proposal that deserves serious consideration on Capitol Hill as we work toward universal coverage."
The hearing on Rep. Pramila Jayapal's (D-Wash.) Medicare for All Act of 2019--which currently has 108 co-sponsors in the House--will take place on Tuesday, April 30th at 10 am ET.
\u201c\ud83d\udea8#BREAKING: The Rules Committee just announced it will be holding an historic hearing on #MedicareforAll on April 30 at 10am EST as @HouseDemocrats continue working toward universal coverage for every single American.\u201d— House Committee on Rules (@House Committee on Rules) 1556049837
"Healthcare is a human right and I'm proud the Rules Committee will be holding this hearing on the Medicare for All Act," Jayapal said in a statement.
"Even with passage of the Affordable Care Act," the congresswoman added, "there are more than 70 million people either without coverage or have coverage that leaves them still unable to access medical care due to prohibitively high out-of-pocket costs. There is no other developed country on the face of the Earth that has a healthcare system that is as fragmented and costly as ours. The health outcomes and barriers to care in America are the worst of any industrialized nation."
Under Jayapal's legislation, the United States would transition to a single-payer system over a two-year period, and every American would receive comprehensive health coverage including dental, vision, reproductive health, and mental health for free at the point of service.
Bonnie Castillo, RN, executive director of National Nurses United (NNU), celebrated the upcoming hearing on Twitter.
"We are excited Congress is taking this historic step by holding the first ever hearing for Medicare for All--the only true solution to this country's healthcare crisis," said Castillo.
As Common Dreams reported, NNU has been leading efforts to build support for Medicare for All at the grassroots as the ambitious proposal gains momentum in Congress.
\u201cOne thing nurses will NEVER take a break from - fighting for guaranteed health care for all!\n\nOn Tuesday, 4/30 @RepMcGovern, @RepJayapal, and @RepDebDingell will host a historic Rules Committee Hearing on the #MedicareForAll Act of 2019!\n\nhttps://t.co/PMzfCm6SkF #1u\u201d— NationalNursesUnited (@NationalNursesUnited) 1556063780
The historic Medicare for All hearing was scheduled as the insurance and pharmaceutical industries continue to ramp up their campaigns against Medicare for All, which would virtually eliminate private insurance.
David Wichmann, CEO of UnitedHealth Group--America's largest private insurer--lashed out at Medicare for All during a call with investors last week, claiming the plan would "destabilize" the U.S. healthcare system.
Progressives were quick to hit back, arguing the true destabilizing force in American healthcare is the for-profit insurance model that imposes massive costs, leaves millions uninsured, and kicks millions off their insurance each year.
"Whether the UnitedHealth CEO likes it or not, we will no longer tolerate a system allowing him to make $83.2 million while Americans go bankrupt when they get sick," tweeted Warren Gunnels, staff director for Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.). "The greed of UnitedHealth is killing Americans. Together, we will end it."
Join Us: News for people demanding a better world
Common Dreams is powered by optimists who believe in the power of informed and engaged citizens to ignite and enact change to make the world a better place. We're hundreds of thousands strong, but every single supporter makes the difference. Your contribution supports this bold media model—free, independent, and dedicated to reporting the facts every day. Stand with us in the fight for economic equality, social justice, human rights, and a more sustainable future. As a people-powered nonprofit news outlet, we cover the issues the corporate media never will. Join with us today! |
Our work is licensed under Creative Commons (CC BY-NC-ND 3.0). Feel free to republish and share widely.
bernie sandersdemocratic partyhealthcaremedicare for allnational nurses unitedpramila jayapalsingle-payerus house
In what grassroots activists celebrated as a "historic step" toward a just healthcare system that places the needs of patients over corporate profits, the House Rules Committee announced late Tuesday that it will hold the first-ever congressional hearing on Medicare for All next week.
"There is no other developed country on the face of the Earth that has a healthcare system that is as fragmented and costly as ours."
--Rep. Pramila Jayapal
"I'm proud to announce this historic hearing on Medicare for All legislation," Rep. Jim McGovern (D-Mass.), chairman of the Rules Committee, said in a statement. "I'm a proud co-sponsor of this bill. It's a serious proposal that deserves serious consideration on Capitol Hill as we work toward universal coverage."
The hearing on Rep. Pramila Jayapal's (D-Wash.) Medicare for All Act of 2019--which currently has 108 co-sponsors in the House--will take place on Tuesday, April 30th at 10 am ET.
\u201c\ud83d\udea8#BREAKING: The Rules Committee just announced it will be holding an historic hearing on #MedicareforAll on April 30 at 10am EST as @HouseDemocrats continue working toward universal coverage for every single American.\u201d— House Committee on Rules (@House Committee on Rules) 1556049837
"Healthcare is a human right and I'm proud the Rules Committee will be holding this hearing on the Medicare for All Act," Jayapal said in a statement.
"Even with passage of the Affordable Care Act," the congresswoman added, "there are more than 70 million people either without coverage or have coverage that leaves them still unable to access medical care due to prohibitively high out-of-pocket costs. There is no other developed country on the face of the Earth that has a healthcare system that is as fragmented and costly as ours. The health outcomes and barriers to care in America are the worst of any industrialized nation."
Under Jayapal's legislation, the United States would transition to a single-payer system over a two-year period, and every American would receive comprehensive health coverage including dental, vision, reproductive health, and mental health for free at the point of service.
Bonnie Castillo, RN, executive director of National Nurses United (NNU), celebrated the upcoming hearing on Twitter.
"We are excited Congress is taking this historic step by holding the first ever hearing for Medicare for All--the only true solution to this country's healthcare crisis," said Castillo.
As Common Dreams reported, NNU has been leading efforts to build support for Medicare for All at the grassroots as the ambitious proposal gains momentum in Congress.
\u201cOne thing nurses will NEVER take a break from - fighting for guaranteed health care for all!\n\nOn Tuesday, 4/30 @RepMcGovern, @RepJayapal, and @RepDebDingell will host a historic Rules Committee Hearing on the #MedicareForAll Act of 2019!\n\nhttps://t.co/PMzfCm6SkF #1u\u201d— NationalNursesUnited (@NationalNursesUnited) 1556063780
The historic Medicare for All hearing was scheduled as the insurance and pharmaceutical industries continue to ramp up their campaigns against Medicare for All, which would virtually eliminate private insurance.
David Wichmann, CEO of UnitedHealth Group--America's largest private insurer--lashed out at Medicare for All during a call with investors last week, claiming the plan would "destabilize" the U.S. healthcare system.
Progressives were quick to hit back, arguing the true destabilizing force in American healthcare is the for-profit insurance model that imposes massive costs, leaves millions uninsured, and kicks millions off their insurance each year.
"Whether the UnitedHealth CEO likes it or not, we will no longer tolerate a system allowing him to make $83.2 million while Americans go bankrupt when they get sick," tweeted Warren Gunnels, staff director for Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.). "The greed of UnitedHealth is killing Americans. Together, we will end it."
In what grassroots activists celebrated as a "historic step" toward a just healthcare system that places the needs of patients over corporate profits, the House Rules Committee announced late Tuesday that it will hold the first-ever congressional hearing on Medicare for All next week.
"There is no other developed country on the face of the Earth that has a healthcare system that is as fragmented and costly as ours."
--Rep. Pramila Jayapal
"I'm proud to announce this historic hearing on Medicare for All legislation," Rep. Jim McGovern (D-Mass.), chairman of the Rules Committee, said in a statement. "I'm a proud co-sponsor of this bill. It's a serious proposal that deserves serious consideration on Capitol Hill as we work toward universal coverage."
The hearing on Rep. Pramila Jayapal's (D-Wash.) Medicare for All Act of 2019--which currently has 108 co-sponsors in the House--will take place on Tuesday, April 30th at 10 am ET.
\u201c\ud83d\udea8#BREAKING: The Rules Committee just announced it will be holding an historic hearing on #MedicareforAll on April 30 at 10am EST as @HouseDemocrats continue working toward universal coverage for every single American.\u201d— House Committee on Rules (@House Committee on Rules) 1556049837
"Healthcare is a human right and I'm proud the Rules Committee will be holding this hearing on the Medicare for All Act," Jayapal said in a statement.
"Even with passage of the Affordable Care Act," the congresswoman added, "there are more than 70 million people either without coverage or have coverage that leaves them still unable to access medical care due to prohibitively high out-of-pocket costs. There is no other developed country on the face of the Earth that has a healthcare system that is as fragmented and costly as ours. The health outcomes and barriers to care in America are the worst of any industrialized nation."
Under Jayapal's legislation, the United States would transition to a single-payer system over a two-year period, and every American would receive comprehensive health coverage including dental, vision, reproductive health, and mental health for free at the point of service.
Bonnie Castillo, RN, executive director of National Nurses United (NNU), celebrated the upcoming hearing on Twitter.
"We are excited Congress is taking this historic step by holding the first ever hearing for Medicare for All--the only true solution to this country's healthcare crisis," said Castillo.
As Common Dreams reported, NNU has been leading efforts to build support for Medicare for All at the grassroots as the ambitious proposal gains momentum in Congress.
\u201cOne thing nurses will NEVER take a break from - fighting for guaranteed health care for all!\n\nOn Tuesday, 4/30 @RepMcGovern, @RepJayapal, and @RepDebDingell will host a historic Rules Committee Hearing on the #MedicareForAll Act of 2019!\n\nhttps://t.co/PMzfCm6SkF #1u\u201d— NationalNursesUnited (@NationalNursesUnited) 1556063780
The historic Medicare for All hearing was scheduled as the insurance and pharmaceutical industries continue to ramp up their campaigns against Medicare for All, which would virtually eliminate private insurance.
David Wichmann, CEO of UnitedHealth Group--America's largest private insurer--lashed out at Medicare for All during a call with investors last week, claiming the plan would "destabilize" the U.S. healthcare system.
Progressives were quick to hit back, arguing the true destabilizing force in American healthcare is the for-profit insurance model that imposes massive costs, leaves millions uninsured, and kicks millions off their insurance each year.
"Whether the UnitedHealth CEO likes it or not, we will no longer tolerate a system allowing him to make $83.2 million while Americans go bankrupt when they get sick," tweeted Warren Gunnels, staff director for Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.). "The greed of UnitedHealth is killing Americans. Together, we will end it."
We've had enough. The 1% own and operate the corporate media. They are doing everything they can to defend the status quo, squash dissent and protect the wealthy and the powerful. The Common Dreams media model is different. We cover the news that matters to the 99%. Our mission? To inform. To inspire. To ignite change for the common good. How? Nonprofit. Independent. Reader-supported. Free to read. Free to republish. Free to share. With no advertising. No paywalls. No selling of your data. Thousands of small donations fund our newsroom and allow us to continue publishing. Can you chip in? We can't do it without you. Thank you.