Here is the Bill (HR-676) to read at your leisure. You can also go here, the Library of Congress, to see it in more depth:
HR-676 THE UNITED STATES NATIONAL HEALTH INSURANCE ACT
or what is commonly called:
'THE EXPANDED AND IMPROVED MEDICARE FOR ALL ACT'
'To provide for comprehensive health insurance coverage for all United States residents, and for other purposes.'
STATUS:
01/24/2007: Referred to House Energy and Commerce
01/24/2007: Referred to House Natural Resources
01/24/2007: Referred to House Ways and Means
01/24/2007: Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committees on Ways and Means, and Natural Resources, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
01/30/2007: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
02/02/2007: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
COMMITTEE/SUBCOMMITTEE ACTIVITY:
Energy and Commerce: Referral
Ways and Means: Referral
Health: Referral
1/24/2007-- INTRODUCED: United States National Health Insurance Act (or the Expanded and Improved Medicare for All Act)
ESTABLISHES the UNITED STATES NATIONAL HEALTH INSURANCE (USNHI) PROGRAM (the Program) to provide all individuals residing in the United States and in U.S. territories with free health care that includes all medically necessary care, such as primary care and prevention, prescription drugs, emergency care, and mental health services.
REGISTRATION- Individuals and families shall receive a United States National Health Insurance Card, with a unique number, in the mail after filling out a United States National Health Insurance application form at a health care provider. Such application form shall be no more than 2 pages long. An individual's social security number shall not be used for purposes of registration under this section.
PROHIBITS an institution from participating in the Program unless it is a public or nonprofit institution. Allows nonprofit health maintenance organizations (HMOs) that actually deliver care in their own facilities to participate in the Program.
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 hospitals and health professionals for services. Prohibits financial incentives between HMOs and physicians based on utilization.
ESTABLISHES the USNHI 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.
REQUIRES the Program to give first priority in retraining and job placement and unemployment benefits to individuals whose jobs are eliminated due to reduced administration.
ESTABLISHES a National Board of Universal Quality and Access to provide advice on quality, access, and affordability.
PROVIDES for the eventual integration of the Indian Health Service into the Program.
SEC. 102. BENEFITS AND PORTABILITY:
(a) IN GENERAL: The health insurance benefits under this Act cover all medically necessary services, including at least the following:
(1) Primary care and prevention.
(2) Inpatient care.
(3) Outpatient care.
(4) Emergency care.
(5) Prescription drugs.
(6) Durable medical equipment.
(7) Long term care.
(8) Mental health services.
(9) The full scope of dental services (other than cosmetic dentistry).
(10) Substance abuse treatment services.
(11) Chiropractic services.
(12) Basic vision care and vision correction (other than laser vision correction for cosmetic purposes).
(13) Hearing services, including coverage of hearing aids.
(b) PORTIBILITY: Such benefits are available through any licensed health care clinician anywhere in the United States that is legally qualified to provide the benefits.
(c) NO COST-SHARING: No deductibles, copayments, coinsurance, or other cost-sharing shall be imposed with respect to covered benefits.
