With a host Democratic presidential candidates endorsing some form of Medicare for all and bills being introduced in Congress, a coalition of medical and insurance associations is fighting back.

The Partnership for America's Health Care Future, formed in June, is running daily digital advertising, videos and Twitter posts against the plan, The New York Times reported February 23rd. The campaign messages say Medicare for all will require tax increases and place medical decision-making in the hands of bureaucrats.

The Federation of American Hospitals, America's Health Insurance Plans and the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America formed the coalition, which now has more than 25 members. Other members include the American Medical Association, the American Hospital Association and the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association, along with nonmedical groups including the National Retail Federation and the National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors.

FAH CEO Chip Kahn, who represents investor-owned hospitals, told the Times that the current system is working but should be improved to expand access.

"We have a structure that frankly works for most Americans," he said. "Let's make it work for all Americans. We reject the notion that we need to turn the whole apple cart over and start all over again."

AHA CEO Rick Pollack said in a blog post on the group's site that Medicare for all would do more harm than good. AHA represents all types of hospitals and health-care systems.

"First, a one-size-fits-all approach could disrupt the coverage of more than 180 million Americans who are covered through employer-provided plans," he wrote. "Our first priority should be fixing what's broken instead of ripping apart our entire health care system and starting from scratch."

The retail group, which represents companies such as Macy's, Saks Fifth Avenue, and Walmart in addition to Amazon and chain restaurants such as McDonald's, said it wants to protect employer-based coverage.

"We are trying to understand what will be coming at us," Neil Trautwein, vice president for health care policy at NRF, told the Times. "Proposals on the left and the right, in Congress and on the campaign trail, could blow up the employer-based health care system that has worked pretty well for more than 60 years."

Many candidates for the Democratic presidential nomination have endorsed Medicare for all in some form. Sen. Bernie Sanders introduced the Medicare for All Act of 2017. Sens. Cory Booker, Kirsten Gillibrand, Kamala Harris and Elizabeth Warren backed that bill. Booker, Gillibrand and Harris also endorsed a more modest bill and were joined by Sens. Amy Klobuchar and Sherrod Brown (a potential candidate).

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