Nurses Advocate for Medicare for All Act Amid Healthcare System Challenges

Legislation Reintroduced to Expand Medicare, Backed by Registered Nurses Union

The push to expand Medicare coverage to all Americans gained renewed momentum as Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and Representatives Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.) and Debbie Dingell (D-Mich.) reintroduced the Medicare for All Act in Congress. National Nurses United (NNU), the nation's largest union of registered nurses, has reaffirmed its support for the bill, emphasizing its potential life-saving benefits.

NNU has been a long-standing advocate for a single-payer health care system that ensures health care access based on patient needs rather than profit motives. Their support comes at a time when some critical health programs, such as Medicaid and Veterans Health Administration benefits, face potential cuts.

"Nurses are fighting for a future in which our patients’ health is put first always and that’s why we are proud to continue our support for Medicare for All," said Nancy Hagans, RN and NNU president. "When we guarantee health care for all, corporations and billionaires will no longer be able to deny anyone the care that they need. In the richest country on earth, nobody should have to be forced to choose between taking their medications and putting food on the table."

The proposed legislation aims to expand Medicare to include comprehensive benefits such as primary care, vision, dental, prescription drugs, mental health services, and more. It also seeks to grant patients the flexibility to choose their health care providers while negotiating drug prices to minimize administrative costs.

Currently, approximately 85 million Americans are either uninsured or underinsured. This figure may rise if public health infrastructure is not reinforced by Congress.

Bonnie Castillo, RN and executive director of NNU, emphasized, "The goal of the current administration and their billionaire buddies is to pile on endless cuts and attacks so that we become too demoralized and overwhelmed to move forward." She affirmed the union's commitment to fighting for a health care system that prioritizes people over profits.

Senator Bernie Sanders expressed his stance, stating, "The American people understand, as I do, that health care is a human right, not a privilege and that we must end the international embarrassment of the United States being the only major country on earth that does not guarantee health care to all of its citizens."

Representative Pramila Jayapal added, "We don’t suffer from scarcity in America, we suffer from greed. That’s most clear in our broken healthcare system, which is why we need Medicare for All."

In addition to the Medicare for All Act, NNU supports several other legislative measures:

• Nurse Staffing Standards for Hospital Patient Safety and Quality Care Act: This legislation seeks to establish minimum nurse-to-patient staffing ratios to improve patient care and nurse retention.
• Workplace Violence Prevention for Health Care and Social Service Workers Act: Aiming to reduce violence against health care workers, this act would require employers to develop and implement violence prevention plans.
• Richard L. Trumka Protecting the Right to Organize (PRO) Act: This act intends to strengthen workers' rights to unionize and advocate for improved working conditions and benefits.
• VA Employee Fairness Act: This act would expand collective bargaining rights for Veterans Affairs clinical professionals, aiming to enhance patient care in VA facilities.

For more information on the Medicare for All Act, please refer to NNU’s fact sheet.

National Nurses United is the largest and fastest-growing union and professional association of registered nurses in the United States, with more than 225,000 members nationwide.

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