Executive
Summary of ,
("Expanded & Improved Medicare For All Bill")
*to be introduced by Cong. John Conyers, 108th
Congress
Brief
Summary of Legislation
http://www.pnhp.org/nhibill/nhi_execsumm.html
The United
States National Health Insurance Act (HR676) establishes a new
American national health insurance program by creating a
single payer health care system. The bill would create a
publicly financed, privately delivered health care program
that uses the already existing Medicare program by expanding
and improving it to all U.S. residents, and all residents
living in U.S. territories. The goal of the legislation is to
ensure that all Americans, guaranteed by law, will have access
to the highest quality and cost effective health care services
regardless of one's employment, income, or health care status.
With over 42
million uninsured Americans, and another 40 million who are
under insured, the time has come to change our inefficient and
costly fragmented health care system. The USNHI program would
reduce overall annual health care spending by over $50 billion
in the first year. In addition, because it implements
effective methods of cost-control, health spending is
contained over time, ensuring affordable health care to future
generations.
In its first
year, single-payer will save over $150 billion on paperwork
and $50 billion by using rational bulk purchasing of
medications. These savings are more than enough to cover all
the uninsured, improve coverage for everyone else, including
medication coverage and long-term care.
Employers who
currently provide coverage for their employees pay an average
of 8.5% of payroll towards health coverage, while many
employers can't afford to provide coverage at all. Under this
Act, all employers will pay a modest 3.3% payroll tax per
employee, while eliminating their payments towards private
health plans. The average cost to an employer for an employee
earning $35,000 per year will be reduced to $1,155, less than
$100 per month.
95% of
families will pay less for health care under national health
insurance than they do today. Seniors and younger people will
all have the comprehensive medication coverage they need.
Who is
Eligible
Every person
living in the United States and the U.S. Territories would
receive a United States National Health Insurance Card and i.d
number once they enroll at the appropriate location. Social
Security numbers may not be used when assigning i.d cards. No
co-pays or deductibles are permissible under this act.
Benefits/Portability
This program
will cover all medically necessary services, including primary
care, inpatient care, outpatient care, emergency care,
prescription drugs, durable medical equipment, long term care,
mental health services, dentistry, eye care, chiropractic, and
substance abuse treatment. Patients have their choice of
physicians, providers, hospitals, clinics, and practices.
Conversion
to a Non-Profit Health Care System
Private
health insurers shall be prohibited under this act from
selling coverage that duplicates the benefits of the USNHI
program. They shall not be prohibited from selling coverage
for any additional benefits not covered by this Act; examples
include cosmetic surgery, and other medically unnecessary
treatments.
Cost
Containment Provisions/ Reimbursement
The National
USNHI program will annually set reimbursement rates for
physicians, health care providers, and negotiate prescription
drug prices. The national office will provide an annual lump
sum allotment to each existing Medicare region, which will
then administer the program. Payment to health care providers
include fee for service, and global budgets.
The
conversion to a not-for- profit health care system will take
place over a 15 year period, through the sale of U.S. treasury
bonds; payment will not be made for loss of business profits,
but only for real estate, buildings, and equipment.
Funding
& Administration
The United
States Congress will establish annual funding outlays for the
USNHI Program through an annual entitlement. The USNHI program
will operate under the auspices of the Dept of Health &
Human Services, and be administered in the former Medicare
offices. All current expenditures for public health insurance
programs such as S-CHIP, Medicaid, and Medicare will be placed
into the USNHI program.
A National
USNHI Advisory Board will be established, comprised primarily
of health care professionals and representatives of health
advocacy groups.
Proposed
Funding For USNHI Program: $1.86 Trillion Per Year
A payroll tax
on all employers of 3.3%. Maintain employee and employer
Medicare payroll tax of 1.45%. Implement a variety of
mechanisms so that low and middle income families pay a
smaller share of their incomes for health care than wealthiest
5% of Americans; i.e, a health income tax on the wealthiest 5%
of Americans, a small tax on stock and bond transfers, and
closing corporate tax shelters. A repeal of the Bush tax cut
of 2001. For more details, see PNHP's "Financing National
Health Insurance."
*For more
information, contact Joel Segal, legislative assistant, Rep.
John Conyers, at 202 225-5126, or e- mail at Joel. Segal@mail.house.gov
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