Could A Sole CongressPerson Go To The CBO And Get Single Payer Or Medicare For All Scored?.......

[global1]

Just wondering if such a request can come from one congressperson or does it have to come from a committee or be and officially sponsored bill with signatures before it could go through that process.

As I recall neither single payer nor medicare for all was scored for cost/cost savings the last time around and it would have been neat if a Dennis Kucinich or someone could have gone to GAO with such a request.

I would sure like to have that info in my back pocket and ready when BonerCare comes up (the repeal of HCR).


(I edited the subject line from GAO to CBO per one of the responses below.)

[Gaedel]

1. I think it would be the CBO not the GAO

Congressional Budget Office.

GAO generally investigates government wrong doing.

[global1]

3. Opps - My Bad - You're Right - The CBO........nt

[Lasher]

2. Single Payer System Cost: State and National Fiscal Studies

June, 1991 General Accounting Office

“If the US were to shift to a system of universal coverage and a single payer, as in Canada, the savings in administrative costs (10 percent of health spending) would be more than enough to offset the expense of universal coverage”

http://archive.gao.gov/d20t9/144039.pdf

December, 1991 Congressional Budget Office

“If the nation adopted…(a) single-payer system that paid providers at Medicare’s rates, the population that is currently uninsured could be covered without dramatically increasing national spending on health. In fact, all US residents might be covered by health insurance for roughly the current level of spending or even somewhat less, because of savings in administrative costs and lower payment rates for services used by the privately insured."

http://www.cbo.gov/ftpdocs/76xx/doc7652/91-CBO-039.pdf

April, 1993 Congressional Budget Office

“Under a single payer system with co-payments …on average, people would have an additional $54 to spend…more specifically, the increase in taxes… would be about $856 per capita…private-sector costs would decrease by $910 per capita.

The net cost of achieving universal insurance coverage under this single payer system would be negative.”

http://www.cbo.gov/ftpdocs/64xx/doc6442/93doc171.pdf

More here: http://www.pnhp.org/facts/single_payer_system_cost.php