Major House Hearing On ‘Medicare For All’ Heavy On Fiery Partisan Rhetoric, Light On Substance
While Democrats on the House Ways and Means Committee are divided over the issue, they focused their collective fire on Republicans, accusing them of using “scare tactics” to fight back against any government expansion of health care. Republicans, meanwhile, painted "Medicare for All" supporters as socialists.
CNN:
Medicare For All Hearing Turns Into A Defense Of Obamacare
Progressive Democrats cheered when House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Richard Neal agreed to hold a hearing on universal health care coverage. But Neal opened the historic hearing Wednesday by praising the Affordable Care Act -- and also raised concerns about sweeping overhaul proposals such as "Medicare for All." Medicare for All and other bills to broaden the government's role in health care are enjoying unprecedented attention as progressive Democrats flex their new influence in the House and on the presidential campaign trail. Wednesday's hearing was the third -- but so far, the most consequential -- on the topic. The rules and budget committees, which do not have jurisdiction over health care, also held hearings in recent months. (Luhby, 6/12)
The Hill:
First Major 'Medicare For All' Hearing Sharpens Attacks On Both Sides
Supporters of “Medicare for All” notched a victory Wednesday when one of Congress’s most powerful committees debated the progressive proposal, but the venue also gave Republicans an opportunity to paint proponents as socialists. Democrats and Republicans on the House Ways and Means Committee were at odds with each other, and at times with the lively audience of Medicare for All advocates, over how to pay for a program that’s estimated to cost in the tens of trillions of dollars. (Hellmann, 6/12)
Modern Healthcare:
House Panel Explores Insurance Coverage Expansion Plans
A House committee hearing on paths to universal health coverage on Wednesday devolved into a fiery rhetorical battle between Democrats seeking an expanded public payer role and Republicans denouncing such moves as one-size-fits-all socialized medicine. Both Democrats and Republicans on the House Ways and Means Committee agreed that the current $3.5 trillion system features unsustainable spending increases, imposes excessive administrative burdens for providers and patients, and leaves too many Americans without quality coverage and access to care. (Meyer, 6/12)
