KENNY STANCIL, STAFF WRITER


Congressman Ro Khanna received praise from progressive lawmakers and Medicare for All advocates on Tuesday after reintroducing a bill that would provide states with access to the federal funding and regulatory flexibility needed to implement universal healthcare programs.


“If the last year proved anything, it is that universal health coverage is not optional: it’s urgent,” the California Democrat, a member of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, said in a statement.


Proponents of the new legislation say it would advance the national movement for a single-payer system on a state-by-state basis, especially as the effort at the federal level has been stymied by the Biden administration’s vocal opposition to supplanting the nation’s for-profit system.


In addition, the bill “requires benefits provided under state plans be equal to or greater than what federal beneficiaries receive now.” If a state’s proposal is deemed acceptable after being evaluated by an independent panel of healthcare experts, the Secretary of Health and Human Services would then approve or reject the waiver application.



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