Sanders, McDermott Intro Medicare-For-All Single-Payer Healthcare Program

Sen. Bernie Sanders (i-Vt.) and Rep. Jim McDermott (D-Wash.) announced Tuesday that they have introduced in the both the House and Senate giving states the freedom to implement single-payer health care programs.

“The United States is the only major nation in the industrialized world that does not guarantee healthcare as a right to its people,” Sanders said. “It’s time for the [nation] to provide a Medicare-for-all single payer health coverage program.”

The twin measures, both called the American Health Security Act, would provide federal guidelines and minimum standards for states to administer these single-payer systems.

Sanders said that Vermont will spearhead the “experiment” on the state level and said he hoped the “Vermont experience” would catch on and spread across the country.