Washington, United States
News Desk | Politics
Legislation commonly referred to as the McDermott bills traces back to proposals introduced by former U.S. Representative Jim McDermott, a Democrat who served Washington state in Congress for nearly three decades, according to congressional records. The measures, introduced between the 1990s and mid-2010s, largely focused on expanding healthcare access, strengthening Medicare, and addressing gaps in coverage for older and low-income Americans.
McDermott, a physician by training, sponsored and co-sponsored multiple healthcare bills during his tenure, including proposals to add dental, vision, and hearing benefits to Medicare and to improve consumer protections for Medicare supplemental insurance, according to the Congressional Research Service. None of the major bills bearing his name were enacted into law, but several advanced policy debates that later influenced broader healthcare discussions.
In the 114th Congress, McDermott introduced legislation aimed at modernizing Medicare benefits, arguing that the program had not kept pace with seniors’ medical needs. In floor statements at the time, he said excluding services such as dental and vision care led to higher long-term costs and poorer health outcomes. Republican lawmakers raised concerns over federal spending and program sustainability, and the bills stalled in committee.
Earlier proposals associated with McDermott included support for single-payer healthcare frameworks, most notably through companion legislation aligned with Senate efforts to create a universal healthcare system. Those bills drew attention from progressive groups and healthcare advocates but faced strong opposition from industry stakeholders and fiscal conservatives.
Although McDermott retired from Congress in 2017, his bills are still referenced in policy discussions and academic research examining the evolution of U.S. healthcare reform. Current members of Congress have introduced similar proposals in recent sessions, reflecting ideas first advanced in McDermott’s legislation, according to analysts at nonpartisan policy institutes.
There are no active federal bills currently sponsored by McDermott, and none using his name are pending in Congress as of this year. The measures remain part of the historical legislative record rather than the current lawmaking agenda. The story is developing.
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