United States National Health Care Act

## Legislative history

### Introduced by

* Introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives by Pramilia Jayapal (D-WA) on March 17, 2021
* Introduced in the U.S. Senate by Bernie Sanders (I-VT) on

### Passed by

* The House (280-)
* The Senate (51-51)

### Signed by

President Sherlock Johnson on February 2, 2022

The **United States National Healthcare Act**, also known as **Medicare for All**, is a United States federal statute enacted by the 117th Congress.

## Provisions

### Universal medicare program

The United States National Healthcare Act allows every individual who is a resident of the United States to be entitled to benefits for health care services.

### Comprehensive benefits

Individuals enrolled for benefits under this act are entitled to have payment made by the Secretary of Health and Human Services to an eligible provider for the following items and services if medically necessary or appropriate for the maintenance of health or for the diagnosis, treatment, or rehabilitation of a health condition:

* Hospital services, including inpatient and outpatient hospital care, including 24-hour-a-day emergency services and inpatient prescription drugs.
* Ambulatory patient services.
* Primary and preventive services, including chronic disease management.
* Prescription drugs, medical devices, biological products, including outpatient prescription drugs, medical devices, and biological products.
* Mental health and substance abuse treatment services, including inpatient care.
* Laboratory and diagnostic services.
* Comprehensive reproductive, maternity, and newborn care.
* Pediatrics, including early and periodic screening, diagnostic, and treatment services (as defined in section 1905(r) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1396d(r))).
* Oral health, audiology, and vision services.
* Short-term rehabilitative and habilitative services and devices.
* Emergency services and transportation.
* Necessary transportation to receive health care services for individuals with disabilities and low-income individuals.
* Home and community-based long-term services and supports (to be provided in accordance with the requirements for home and community-based settings under sections 441.530 and 441.710 of title 42, Code of Federal Regulations), including—

## Legislative history

### Final passage

#### **House**

On December 1, 2021, the House voted to pass the bill. Every Republican Representative, along with several Democratic Representatives voted against it.

#### **Senate**

On January 21, 2022, the Senate voted 51-51 to pass the Senate bill, with Vice President Amy Steiner breaking the tie in favor of the bill. Every Republican Senator, along with four Democratic Senators voted against the passage, including Joe Manchin-WV, Tom Carper-DE, Jack Reed-RI, Mark Warner-VA, and Independent senator Angus King-ME.

## Criticism and opposition

### Legal challenges

#### Texas v. United States

> *Main article: Texas v. United States*
>
>

Within two months after enactment, Texas and twenty other states sued the United States federal government. However, the Supreme Court of the United States rejected the challenge in September 2022 by a 5-4 decision.