Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Medicare-For-All Continues To Play Big For Democrats On The 2020 Campaign Trail
Several 2020 Democratic candidates support Medicare for All, but what would that proposal look like in action? (Kodjak, 4/11)
The Senate鈥檚 top Democrat stopped short of throwing his weight behind Sen. Bernie Sanders鈥 鈥淢edicare for All鈥 plan Thursday, calling it one of several proposals his party is advancing to strengthen health care. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., made the comments to reporters a day after Sanders, a Democratic presidential candidate, rolled out his latest version of the measure. The Vermont independent鈥檚 package is supported by many liberals and several other presidential contenders, but many moderates fear it鈥檚 an easy target for Republicans to characterize as socialist and a pathway to huge tax increases. Health care seems likely to be a major issue in next year鈥檚 presidential and congressional elections. (Fram, 4/11)
Sen. Bernie Sanders鈥檚 (I-Vt.) campaign on Thursday hit back at President Trump, a day after the White House attacked Sanders鈥檚 鈥淢edicare for all鈥 bill. 鈥淭his campaign's message to Trump is simple: we welcome this fight because we are going to defeat you in the election and guarantee health care as a right to all people,鈥 Sanders campaign manager Faiz Shakir said in a statement. (Sullivan, 4/11)
U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders returns to the friendly terrain of Wisconsin on Friday to kick off a swing through pivotal states that are part of the Democratic "blue wall" strategy for 2020. ... The Sanders campaign said his message on trade, unions, working families and health care resonates in Wisconsin and throughout the Midwest. Earlier this week, Sanders unveiled his latest "Medicare for All" proposal, an idea that has influenced Democratic state lawmakers in Wisconsin who are advocating for similar statewide health insurance coverage. (4/11)
At a company town hall meeting in late February, a UnitedHealthcare executive assured employees that the private health insurance giant was indeed working to undercut support for Democratic lawmakers鈥 push for Medicare-for-all. But the company, he said, is trying to tread lightly. 鈥淥ne of the things you said: 鈥榃e鈥檙e really quiet鈥 or 鈥業t seems like we鈥檙e quiet.鈥 Um, we鈥檝e done a lot more than you would think,鈥 chief executive Steve Nelson said in response to an employee鈥檚 question about the company鈥檚 role in the Medicare-for-all debate, according to a video of his remarks obtained by The Washington Post. 鈥淵ou want to be kind of thoughtful about how you show up and have these kind of conversations, because the last thing you want to do is become the poster child during the presidential campaign." (Stein, 4/12)