H.R.676 - United States National Health Care Act or the Expanded and Improved Medicare for All Act

To provide for comprehensive health insurance coverage for all United States residents, improved health care delivery, and for other purposes. view all titles (5)

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All Bill Titles

  • Official: To provide for comprehensive health insurance coverage for all United States residents, improved health care delivery, and for other purposes. as introduced.
  • Popular: United States National Health Care Act or the Expanded and Improved Medicare for All Act as introduced.
  • Short: United States National Health Care Act or the Expanded and Improved Medicare for All Act as introduced.
  • Short: Expanded and Improved Medicare for All Act as introduced.
  • Short: United States National Health Care Act as introduced.

Bill's Views

  • Today: 29
  • Past Seven Days: 99
  • All-Time: 73,201
 
Introduced
 
House
Passes
 
Senate
Passes
 
President
Signs
 

 
01/25/09
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Official Bill Text Comment on about 28 Pages

Sponsor

Representative

John Conyers

D-MI

View Co-Sponsors (88)

OpenCongress Summary

This bill establishes the United States National Health Care (USNHC) Program to provide all individuals residing in the United States and U.S. territories with free health care, which would encompass primary care and prevention, prescription drugs, emergency care, long-term care, mental health services, dental services, and vision care. Such a program would be financed by the USNHC Trust Fund via existing sources of government health care revenue, by increasing personal income taxes of the top 5% income earners and by instituting a progressive excise tax on payroll and self employment income, as well as on stock and bond transactions. While the Indian Health Services would eventually be integrated in the program, the independence of the Veterans Affairs health programs would remain under evaluation.
OpenCongress bill summaries are written by OpenCongress editors and are entirely independent of Congress and the federal government. For the summary provided by Congress itself, via the Congressional Research Service, see the "Official Summary" below.

Official Summary

1/26/2009--Introduced.United States National Health Care Act or the Expanded and Improved Medicare for All Act - Establishes the United States National Health Care (USNHC) Program to provide all individuals residing in the United States and U.S. territories with free health care that inclu
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Official Summary

1/26/2009--Introduced.United States National Health Care Act or the Expanded and Improved Medicare for All Act - Establishes the United States National Health Care (USNHC) Program to provide all individuals residing in the United States and U.S. territories with free health care that includes all medically necessary care, such as primary care and prevention, prescription drugs, emergency care, long-term care, mental health services, dental services, and vision care.Prohibits an institution from participating unless it is a public or nonprofit institution. Allows nonprofit health maintenance organizations (HMOs) that deliver care in their own facilities to participate. Gives patients the freedom to choose from participating physicians and institutions. Prohibits a private health insurer from selling health insurance coverage that duplicates the benefits provided under this Act. Allows such insurers to sell benefits that are not medically necessary, such as cosmetic surgery benefits. Sets forth methods to pay institutional providers of care and health professionals for services. Prohibits financial incentives between HMOs and physicians based on utilization. Establishes the USNHC Trust Fund to finance the Program with amounts deposited:
(1) from existing sources of government revenues for health care;
(2) by increasing personal income taxes on the top 5% income earners;
(3) by instituting a progressive excise tax on payroll and self-employment income; and
(4) by instituting a small tax on stock and bond transactions. Transfers and appropriates to carry out this Act amounts that would have been appropriated for federal public health care programs, including Medicare, Medicaid, and the State Children's Health Insurance Program. Requires the USNHC Program to give first priority in retraining and job placement and USNHC employment transition benefits to individuals whose jobs are eliminated due to reduced administration. Requires creation of a confidential electronic patient record system.Establishes a National Board of Universal Quality and Access to provide advice on quality, access, and affordability. Provides for:
(1) the eventual integration of the Indian Health Service into the Program; and
(2) evaluation of the continued independence of Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) health programs.

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Organizations Supporting H.R.676

  • United Steelworkers
  • United Church of Christ
  • National Education Association
  • United Electrical, Radio and Machine Workers of America, UE
  • UAW
  • Progressive Democrats of America
  • ...and 13 more. See all.

Organizations Opposing H.R.676

  • American Farm Bureau Federation
  • American Apparel and Footwear Association
  • WellPoint Incorporated
  • America's Health Insurance Plans
  • American Bakers Association
  • American Benefits Council
  • ...and 20 more. See all.
See the money trail behind this bill for more info on how campaign contributions may be influencing senators' and representatives' votes.



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