Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
'Medicare For All' Was Once A Fringe Policy Proposal, Now It's A Litmus Test For 2020 Dems
Politico: Harris Dives Into 'Medicare For All' Minefield
Medicare for All has become a litmus test for 2020 Democrats, but the party is struggling to balance the grassroots enthusiasm for the cause with the political challenges of making it a reality. Kamala Harris was the latest candidate to come under fire from the left, right and center. In a widely watched CNN town hall, the California senator quickly embraced “Medicare for All” and said she was ready to see the private health insurance industry killed off. But quickly, she and her staff offered a more nuanced story: Harris also backs many incremental, go-slow plans that aren’t as radical, and add up to something more like “Medicare for More” or a strengthened version of Obamacare. (Ollstein, 1/31)
The Hill: ‘Medicare For All’ Opens Up Dem Divide
The embrace of “Medicare for all” legislation by top 2020 Democratic presidential candidates has opened up a rift in the party. Democrats highlighted health care in the 2018 midterm elections and reclaimed the House majority by picking up 40 seats. But their message was focused on protecting ObamaCare, not implementing a single-payer system — which is favored by progressives. Some on the left maintain that backing Medicare for all legislation is a must for anyone who wants to secure the Democratic presidential nomination in 2020. (Weixel and Hellmann, 1/30)
NPR: 'Medicare-For-All' Endorsed By Some Democrats Considering A Run For President
"Medicare-for-all," once widely considered a fringe proposal for providing health care in the U.S., is getting more popular. Several Democratic presidential hopefuls are getting behind the idea. Sen. Kamala Harris, D-Calif., endorsed the approach Monday in a CNN town hall-style event, saying her aim would be to eliminate all private insurance. "Who of us has not had that situation, where you've got to wait for approval and the doctor says, well, 'I don't know if your insurance company is going to cover this,' " Harris said. "Let's eliminate all of that. Let's move on." (Kodjak, 1/30)
