First congressional hearing on 'Medicare for all' shows no signs of consensus on controversial issue

The US House Committee on Rules held the first hearing on Medicare for all legislation this week, and, while the subject matter was familiar, the hearing itself was unusual, according to Stephanie Kennan of McGuireWoods Consulting.

Typically, the Rules Committee only holds hearings on bills that have gone through the appropriate authorizing committees, comments Ms Kennan. When asked about the break in procedure, Chairman McGovern (Democrat, Maryland) answered, “there is a new sheriff in town.” The House Budget Committee is expected to hold a hearing sometime in May as well – not unheard of, but also unusual.

Despite the procedural diversion, the subject matter and the hearing itself were reflective of the continued need to address the inequities of the US health care system, and the lack of universal coverage. Democrats were united in talking about the need for universal coverage, ignoring their differences on the issue itself. There were the “pro” witnesses, the “con” witnesses, and the patients with heartbreaking, compelling stories to remind us of the immorality of our health care system and how it works. The experience was reminiscent of the first hearings for the failed Clinton plan and the first hearings for what became the Affordable Care Act, noted Ms Kennan.