1. United States
2. R.I.
3. Letter

I am writing to urge Congress to expand Medicaid immediately and establish a comprehensive national health-care system that guarantees care to every person in the United States. Health care should be treated as an essential public service rather than a privilege dependent upon employment, income, or other limiting factors. Medicaid is a foundational part of the nation’s health-care system, but access and eligibility remain uneven among the states. No person should lose medically necessary care due to administrative barriers or state-level decisions. I urge Congress to enact legislation that would: 1 Establish a national Medicaid eligibility floor. 2 Create a federally administered Medicaid option where states fail to provide adequate coverage. 3 Increase federal matching funds to strengthen care systems. 4 Guarantee continuous eligibility. 5 Ensure comprehensive coverage across all essential health services. 6 Create a national public health-insurance plan available to every resident. 7 Establish a transition toward universal health care without unaffordable costs. 8 Authorize fair price negotiation for all for medical services and medications. 9 Invest in community health infrastructure and workforce development. 10 Require regular national health-needs assessments. Health policy should be evaluated based on whether people receive timely and effective care, not on profitability. I urge Congress to expand Medicaid now while building a permanent system of health care for all.