Bill > HR676

Introduced Session

Expanded & Improved Medicare for All Act - Establishes the Medicare for All Program to provide all individuals residing in the United States and U.S. territories with free health care that includes all medically necessary care, such as primary care and prevention, dietary and nutritional therapies, prescription drugs, emergency care, long-term care, mental health services, dental services, and vision care. Prohibits an institution from participating unless it is a public or nonprofit institution. Allows nonprofit health maintenance organizations (HMOs) that deliver care in their own facilities to participate. Gives patients the freedom to choose from participating physicians and institutions. Prohibits a private health insurer from selling health insurance coverage that duplicates the benefits provided under this Act. Allows such insurers to sell benefits that are not medically necessary, such as cosmetic surgery benefits. Sets forth methods to pay institutional providers of care and health professionals for services. Prohibits financial incentives between HMOs and physicians based on utilization. Establishes the Medicare for All Trust Fund to finance the Program with amounts deposited: (1) from existing sources of government revenues for health care, (2) by increasing personal income taxes on the top 5% income earners, (3) by instituting a modest and progressive excise tax on payroll and self-employment income, (4) by instituting a modest tax on unearned income, and (5) by instituting a small tax on stock and bond transactions. Transfers and appropriates to carry out this Act amounts that would have been appropriated for federal public health care programs, including Medicare, Medicaid, and the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP). Requires the Medicare for All Program to give first priority in retraining and job placement and employment transition benefits to individuals whose jobs are eliminated due to reduced administration. Requires creation of a confidential electronic patient record system. Establishes a National Board of Universal Quality and Access to provide advice on quality, access, and affordability. Requires the eventual integration of the Indian Health Service into the Program, and an evaluation of the continued independence of Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) health programs.

AI Summary

Committee Categories

John Conyers (D)*,  Joyce Beatty (D),  Robert Brady (D),  Michael Capuano (D),  Matt Cartwright (D),  Donna Christensen (D),  Judy Chu (D),  Katherine Clark (D),  Yvette Clarke (D),  Lacy Clay (D),  Jim Clyburn (D),  Steve Cohen (D),  Elijah Cummings (D),  Danny Davis (D),  Michael Doyle (D),  Donna Edwards (D),  Keith Ellison (D),  Eliot Engel (D),  Sam Farr (D),  Chaka Fattah (D),  Al Green (D),  Raúl Grijalva (D),  Luis Gutiérrez (D),  Janice Hahn (D),  Alcee Hastings (D),  Rush Holt (D),  Michael Honda (D),  Jared Huffman (D),  Sheila Jackson-Lee (D),  Hakeem Jeffries (D),  Eddie Johnson (D),  Hank Johnson (D),  Marcy Kaptur (D),  Barbara Lee (D),  John Lewis (D),  Zoe Lofgren (D),  Alan Lowenthal (D),  Carolyn Maloney (D),  Betty McCollum (D),  Jim McDermott (D),  Jim McGovern (D),  George Miller (D),  Gwen Moore (D),  Jerry Nadler (D),  Grace Napolitano (D),  Gloria Negrete McLeod (D),  Richard Nolan (D),  Eleanor Holmes Norton (D),  Chellie Pingree (D),  Mark Pocan (D),  Charles Rangel (D),  Lucille Roybal-Allard (D),  Bobby Rush (D),  Tim Ryan (D),  Loretta Sanchez (D),  Linda Sánchez (D),  Jan Schakowsky (D),  Bobby Scott (D),  José Serrano (D),  Mark Takano (D),  Paul Tonko (D),  Peter Welch (D),  Frederica Wilson (D),  John Yarmuth (D), 

Referred to the Subcommittee Indian and Alaska Native Affairs. (on 02/22/2013)