Dissecting the U.S. National Health Insurance Act, H.R. 676

July 11, 2007

This bill was introduced in the house by Reps. John Conyers (D-Mich.), Dennis Kucinich (D-Ohio), Jim McDermott (D-Wash.), and Donna Christensen (D-V.I.) to provide comprehensive health insurance to all U.S. residents.

This bill would:

• Create a national health care system that is publicly funded and privately delivered.
• Cover all individuals residing in the United states (including any territory of the U.S.), regardless of preexisting conditions.
• Entitle every person to high quality, continuous and accessible health care.
• Cover all medically necessary services, including:
• primary care and prevention
• inpatient and outpatient care
• emergency care
• prescription drugs
• medical equipment
• long term care
• mental health services
• dental services
• substance abuse treatment services
• chiropractic services
• vision care and vision correction
• hearing services, including hearing aids
• Abolish deductibles, co-payments, co-insurance, or other cost-sharing.
• Require health care institutions to be public or not-for-profit.
• Require HMOs to have non-profit status and actually deliver care in their own facilities.
• Allow patients to freely choose their own doctors, hospitals, and inpatient care facilities.
• Prohibit private health insurers from selling health insurance that covers the benefits provided by the National Health Insurance program (however, private health insurers can sell insurance coverage for medically unnecessary treatments such as cosmetic surgery).
• Be funded by existing sources of Federal government revenues, increasing personal income taxes on the top 5% income earners, instituting a modest and progressive excise tax on payroll and self- employment income and instituting a small tax on stock and bond transactions.
• Work towards reducing health disparities by race, ethnicity, income, and geographic region.
• Provide high quality, cost-effective, culturally appropriate care to all individuals regardless of race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, or language.

Read the text of the bill and get the latest info.