Many More People Would Be Covered By ‘Medicare For All’ But It Could Be ‘Disruptive,’ CBO Officials Report At Hearing
The House Budget Committee hearing tried to focus on the potential costs of popular "Medicare for All" type proposals. Congressional Budget Office experts erred more toward caveats and broad predictions than definitive answers though.
The Hill:
CBO: Medicare For All Gives 'Many More' Coverage But 'Potentially Disruptive'
Experts from Congress’s nonpartisan budget office testified Wednesday that a single-payer health care system would result in “many more” people with health insurance but would also be “potentially disruptive” and increase government control. The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) experts made the remarks at the second hearing on a single-payer, “Medicare for All” system that House Democrats have held this year, this time at the House Budget Committee. (Sullivan, 5/22)
Modern Healthcare:
House Committee Dodges Medicare For All's Fiscal Details
But ultimately a House Budget Committee hearing painted only a vague picture of what the hospital world would look like if the entire healthcare system were overhauled. Some projections from Congressional Budget Office officials were promising for hospitals that struggle now. For example, rural hospitals that treat a high share of uninsured, Medicaid and Medicare patients could get a boost, according to CBO's Jessica Banthin. (Luthi, 5/22)
Kaiser Health News:
House Hagglers Zero In On Single-Payer And It All Comes Down To Two Little Words
Would single-payer severely weaken the economy, or drive doctors out of business? Would it result in better, more affordable care for all Americans, or even save lives? And, consistently, they were thwarted by two deceptively simple words. “It depends.” Deployed in various forms by three of Washington’s top number crunchers, that caveat underscored a point the same office made three weeks ago: “single-payer,” or “Medicare for All,” could play out in countless ways. And before policymakers can prognosticate about what such a shift would do, they need to answer some more basic questions. (Luthra, 5/22)
CQ:
After Two House Hearings, 'Medicare For All' Advocates Want More
There’s a considerable amount of momentum for Medicare for All, both among policymakers and in the country at large,” Budget Chairman John Yarmuth, D-Ky., told reporters after the panel's hearing with Congressional Budget Office officials on the effects of implementing a single-payer health system. “But as we saw today, and that was the purpose for the hearing, there are a lot of different ways to do Medicare for All.” Rep. Pramila Jayapal, D-Wash., the author of a single-payer bill (HR 1384), said she expects to add more co-sponsors soon and noted that 200 economists sent a letter backing the proposal this week, while a coalition of businesses briefed lawmakers Tuesday on the case for the measure. (McIntire, 5/22)
