Lawmakers hold hearing on universal healthcare: 2 takeaways

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.  




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