PHOTOS/CHARLES MILLER
Here are some highlights from the Medicare for All bill (H.R. 676) introduced on January 24, 2017 in the House of Representatives by John Conyers Jr. (D-MI):
• Establishes the Medicare for All Program for all individuals residing in the United States or U.S. territories with free health care that includes all medically necessary care, such as primary care and prevention, dietary and nutritional therapies, prescription drugs, emergency care, long-term care, mental health services, dental services, and vision care.
• Only public or nonprofit institutions may participate. Nonprofit health maintenance organizations (HMOs) delivering care in their own facilities may participate.
• Patients may choose from participating physicians and institutions.
• Health insurers may not sell health insurance that duplicates the benefits provided under this bill.
•Funding is from existing sources of government revenues for health care; and includes increasing personal income taxes on the top 5 percent of income earners, and by a tax on stock and bond transactions.
• The program must give employment transition benefits, retraining and job placement to individuals whose jobs are eliminated under this bill.
* Establishes a National Board to provide advice on quality, access, and affordability.
Healthcare: the next battle for guaranteeing healthcare access for all
