Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Following Criticism From Rivals, Sanders Doubles Down On Medicare For All: 'Now Is Not The Time For Tinkering Around The Edges'
The Associated Press: Sanders Defends 'Medicare For All' After Criticism By Biden
Bernie Sanders vigorously defended his signature "Medicare for All" proposal Wednesday after criticism from his 2020 rival Joe Biden and called on his fellow Democratic presidential candidates to join him in refusing to accept contributions from the health care industry. Saying he wanted to address "some of the half-truths" and "outright lies" about his single-payer health care plan, Sanders insisted that coverage for seniors would increase and that Americans would be able to choose their own doctors and clinics without worrying whether their health care provider is in network. (7/17)
Reuters: Biden Versus Sanders: Top 2020 Contenders Snipe Over Healthcare Policy
Democratic presidential front-runner Joe Biden and rival Bernie Sanders are waging a public battle this week over universal healthcare, staking out competing turf on an issue that has become the most divisive in the party's primary campaign. The sniping between the two White House contenders, highlighted on Wednesday when Sanders delivered a defense of his ambitious "Medicare for All" plan, has split Democrats and forced other candidates to choose sides on an issue certain to play prominently in next year's general election race. (7/17)
The Hill: Sanders Strongly Defends 'Medicare For All' After Recent Criticism
"The current debate over Medicare for All has nothing to do with health care," he said during a speech at George Washington University in Washington, D.C. "It has everything to do with the greed and profits of the health care industry." (Hellmann, 7/17)
WBUR: Facing Pressure In Campaign, Sanders Defends His Signature Health Care Plan
Sanders outlined in broad strokes how he'd implement Medicare for All: He'd lower the eligibility age from 65 to 55 in the first year of the new program, then to 45, then 35, then eventually to every adult. Children, Sanders said, would be eligible for the insurance program in the first year of the transition. Sanders also said he also wants to expand Medicare beyond its current benefits to include dental coverage as well. (Detrow, 7/17)
The Wall Street Journal: Sanders Defends Medicare For All, Drawing Contrast With Biden
Mr. Sanders has advocated for government-run, single-payer health care for decades, but he has recently focused more direct attacks at Democrats who don’t support his proposed overhaul of the current system. And the most prominent advocate in the field for a more cautious approach is former Vice President Joe Biden. Mr. Biden has been the leading candidate in national and state polls, and Mr. Sanders generally comes in second or third place. (Collins, 7/17)
NBC News: Bernie Sanders Hits Back At 'Medicare For All' Critics In Speech
While Biden and others have suggested preserving existing private insurance plans while adding a competing public option, Sanders repeatedly made the case that the health care industry was too compromised by profit-seeking to be trusted with such a large role, listing CEO compensation and pointing to higher prices for care compared to other developed countries. “The debate we are currently having in this campaign and this country has nothing to do with health care, but it has everything to do with the greed and profits of the health care industry,” Sanders said. (Sarlin, 7/17)
The Associated Press Fact Check: Savings From Sanders' Medicare Plan Dubious
Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders all but guaranteed in his "Medicare for All" speech on Wednesday the U.S. would spend less on health care with his plan. He said studies from experts on the political left and the right project $2 trillion to $5 trillion in savings over 10 years, but that's questionable. (7/17)
Des Moines Register: 'Medicare For All' Debates Rule At AARP Des Moines Register Forum
U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders won't take the stage until Friday, but his ideas were at the forefront of the healthcare discussion Wednesday during an AARP and Des Moines Register presidential candidate forum. Both U.S. Sen. Michael Bennet of Colorado and former U.S. Rep. John Delaney of Maryland criticized the Sanders-backed plan to eliminate private health insurance in favor of a public-only system, calling Sanders out by name. (Akin and Opsahl, 7/17)
USA Today: Joe Biden, Bernie Sanders Health Insurance Fixes Won't Work: Insurers
The top executive of the health insurance industry's largest trade group said Democratic presidential front-runner Joe Biden's plan to bolster the Affordable Care Act with a public insurance option is a dangerous approach to extend affordable health coverage to millions of Americans. America's Health Insurance Plans CEO Matt Eyles said a government-run insurance option would upend the private insurance market and "be terrible" for hospitals and other health providers. "Some of the public options that he's putting out there would not operate on a competitive playing field," Eyles said during a meeting Tuesday with the USA TODAY Editorial Board. "It would displace the private market, and we don't think it would necessarily be the right approach." (Alltucker, 7/16)
CNBC: Biden Declines To Discuss A Backup Plan If Supreme Court Kills Obamacare
Presidential candidate Joe Biden said in a Tuesday morning interview that he did not want to discuss a backup plan for Obamacare if it is killed by the Supreme Court. “Look, this is a court that’s ruled it’s constitutional twice,” Biden told MSNBC’s “Morning Joe.” “We’ll see. I’m not going to go down that route and speculate what’s going to happen in a negative sense.” (Myong, 7/16)
