Stethoscope on 100-dollar bills What may seem obvious — the notion of medical necessity — isn't so easy to distill into policy rules. (Photo: Getty)

Progressive Democrats have rallied around “Medicare for All,” a single-payer health plan popularized by Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.). Now, some of Washington's official bean counters are trying to add a new framework around what it might look like. The picture they offer highlights just how complicated that shift might be.

A report released Wednesday by the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office outlined a veritable laundry list of options and technicalities lawmakers would need to consider if they are serious about such a proposal.

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