Jayapal's Medicare for All Bill 'Sets a New Standard' for Guaranteeing Healthcare as a Human Right: Analysis

The Medicare for All Act of 2019 “sets a new standard for universally and equitably guaranteeing healthcare as a human right in the United States.”

That’s according to a new comprehensive assessment (pdf) of the legislation released Wednesday by the National Economic & Social Rights Initiative (NESRI), a movement that focuses on rights related to health, housing, education, and work with dignity.

After analyzing the bill, which was introduced by Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.) on Wednesday amid a groundswell of public support and grassroots organizing, NESRI concluded the plan “is by far the strongest healthcare proposal being considered by Congress.”

Specifically, based on five broad criteria—universality, equity, accountability, transparency, and participation—the group found that:

NESRI also broke down its review of the bill in a two-page summary (pdf). While the plan garnered high marks overall and across all five categories, the assessment pointed to some areas where there is room for improvement, including equitable financing and relief for those burdened by debt, cooperation with other social service systems, information and data rules, availability of healthcare providers, and community participation in the crafting of the legislation.

In spite of those critiques, the assessment makes clear that Jayapal’s proposal lives up to the demands behind the public push for Medicare for All, unlike some of the diluted half-measures—often denounced as “Medicare for Some”—being tossed around by skeptics of scrapping private insurance and implementing a universal program.

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