Stethoscope and records.
PHOTO: Pixabay

The Expanded and Improved Medicare for All Act now has 104 co-sponsors in the House of Representatives.

H.R. 676 was introduced in January by U.S. Rep. John Conyers, D-Mich., and has  gained support from members across the country, adding 28 new co-sponsors in April alone.

According to Physicians for a National Health Program, the bill would yield about $500 billion annually in administrative savings and provide immediate coverage to the 26 million Americans who are currently uninsured.

“Americans are fed up with an inhumane, profit-driven health system that leaves millions without care,” said Dr. Carol Paris, president of PNHP. “Quality health care is not a luxury, nor is it a commodity that can be bought and sold in a marketplace. It is a social good that can be best delivered through a single-payer national health program."

Demands for a national single-payer health plan dominated town hall meetings during the spring congressional recess.

PNHP members have contributed to this upswing in activism by calling, writing and visiting their representatives, asking them to co-sponsor H.R. 676 for the benefit of patients, physicians, and the broader economy.

“Gallup, the Kaiser Family Foundation, and other polling organizations have found that there is majority support for Medicare for All in America today,” said Conyers in a recent editorial in the Detroit Free Press.

Thanks to this groundswell, he said, "Single payer is politically achievable."

U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., has announced plans to introduce a Medicare for All bill in the senate next month.

"The momentum towards a universal health program is unstoppable," said Paris. "Americans of all political stripes are reiterating their long-held support for improved Medicare for all and Congress has a responsibility to act."

Tags

(0) comments

Welcome to the discussion.

Keep it Clean. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd,racist or sexually-oriented language.
PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK.
Don't Threaten. Threats of harming anotherperson will not be tolerated.
Be Truthful. Don't knowingly lie about anyoneor anything.
Be Nice. No racism, sexism or any sort of -ismthat is degrading to another person.
Be Proactive. Use the 'Report' link oneach comment to let us know of abusive posts.
Share with Us. We'd love to hear eyewitnessaccounts, the history behind an article.