On July 30, 2015, more than 60 cities will celebrate the 50th Birthday of Medicare, our nation’s single payer health care system for seniors, and call on Congress and the public to Protect it, Improve it, and Expand it (PIE) to cover all.

Medicare brought care and dignity to seniors, ended much suffering, extended lives, and lifted millions from poverty. Medicare desegregated the nation’s hospitals by making payment contingent on ending discrimination. Medicare shows what federal funding based on sound public policy can do for social justice.

This year’s celebrations call for protecting Medicare from those who would cut it or turn it into a voucher; improving Medicare for it still omits crucial dental, inadequately covers drugs, and leaves many unable to pay for care; and expanding Medicare so that it covers all ages with no exceptions.

The celebrations call for passage of national single payer legislation, HR 676, Expanded and Improved Medicare for All.

AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka has urged unions to participate in the Medicare celebrations. His message to affiliates is here.

The city celebrations are listed here.

Physicians for a National Health Program has announced a national call-in day on July 30, 2015, to urge lawmakers to become co-sponsors of HR 676. Current HR 676 co-sponsors are here. You can call your representative at the Capitol Switchboard number, 202-224-3121.

PNHP physicians have appeared in newspapers in many cities advocating an end to private for-profit health insurance by moving to improved Medicare for All. Many of those Op Eds can be seen here.

In Washington, DC

Also on July 30, 2015, Rep. John Conyers, lead sponsor of H.R. 676, the Expanded and Improved Medicare for All Act, will hold a congressional briefing, moderated by veteran journalist Bill Moyers, from 1 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. in the Rayburn House Office Building, Room 2237. The event can be seen at this link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cqopRQ1kT-s&feature=youtu.be

For further details contact Congressman Conyers’ Legislative Assistant, Erik Sperling at [email protected].

At 9:30 on the morning of July 30, National Nurses United and others will hold a “Medicare turns 50” rally in Upper Senate Park, across Constitution Avenue from the Capitol followed by congressional lobbying. Further details are here.

Join an event near you!