Members of the House Oversight and Reform Committee convened March 29 for a hearing dubbed "Examining the Pathways to Universal Health Coverage."
Two takeaways:
1. Democrats and Republicans remain divided on how to approach healthcare reform.
Committee Chair Rep. Carolyn Maloney, D-N.Y., said "Medicare for All" offers a "bold vision for America where no patient is denied necessary medical care because it is too expensive." She said the proposal fulfills a promise that healthcare is a human right.
Ranking member Rep. James Comer, R-Ky., said Medicare for All will "gut quality healthcare coverage in favor of waiting lines, rationed care and stalled medical innovation." He said it will cancel first-rate health plans for millions in favor of giving politicians unlimited control of healthcare.
2. Conflicting reports on cost.
Ms. Maloney cited a University of California San Francisco study that analyzed 22 single-payer proposals and found that all would save money by the 10th year, even those that projected costs would initially increase.
Rep. Andrew Clyde, R-Ga., cited an Urban Institute report that found one single-payer proposal that would cover all Americans would increase federal government spending by $34 trillion over 10 years.