‘Medicare for All’ and other D.C. health care happenings

SIGNS AND PRINTOUTS OF MEDICAL CROWDSOURCING CAMPAIGNS COVER THE DOORS OF THE PHRMA HEADQUARTERS DURING A PROTEST RALLY. (NICHOLAS FLORKO/STAT) 

It's a busy day in Washington for health care. Most notably, the House Rules Committee is set to hold a hearing on “Medicare For All,” the policy idea that would cover all Americans under a national health care system. The hearing is the first sign that Congress is considering the increasingly popular idea in earnest. Several Democratic presidential hopefuls have already embraced the idea. And yesterday, around 200 progressive activists rallied outside of the Washington headquarters of the industry group PhRMA, accusing drug makers of blocking the policy idea.

Elsewhere on Capitol Hill today, the House Judiciary Committee is going to mark up a slew of drug pricing bills and the health subcommittee of the House Energy and Commerce Committee is also set to hold a hearing on drug pricing in Medicare.