ISPC Position Statement on National Single-Payer Legislation

ISPC, in order to promote the health and welfare of all people in Illinois and the US, educates and works with people and organizations in all parts of our society toward a national single-payer system for financing health care.

 

The system we work for will be universal, equitable, not-for-profit, publicly funded, publicly administered, privately and publicly delivered, subject to strong civic and governmental oversight in its operations, and accountable to "we the people."

 

ISPC pursues and encourages active engagement by single-payer advocates in all steps toward the achievement of these ends.

 

In the present, such engagement includes informing ourselves and others about the two national single-payer bills, HR 676, the Expanded and Improved Medicare for All Act (first introduced in 2003), and S 1804, the Medicare for All Act of 2017, including the strengths and weaknesses of each.

 

It includes open, respectful and forthright discussion, debate, negotiation, and advocacy around the bills as they are improved and refined.

It includes working sometimes together and sometimes differently toward the vision of health care justice that we share. 

 

Such active engagement will serve as the foundation for the public oversight and accountability necessary, once single-payer legislation is enacted, for the continuing development of a health care system that truly serves the needs of all of us. 

 

History of this position statement: 

• September 25, 2017: An email to the supporters' list:invited all who wished to do so to engage in a discussion of S 1804, the Medicare for All Act of 2017; all who responded received follow-up email about how to take part.
• September 25 to December 2: Discussion on the ISPC discussion list serve.
• December 2: No objections to posting this statement on the website.