White House hopeful Sen. Bernie Sanders Bernie SandersThe Hill's Campaign Report: Trump faces backlash after not committing to peaceful transition of power Bernie Sanders: 'This is an election between Donald Trump and democracy' The Hill's 12:30 Report: Trump stokes fears over November election outcome MORE (I-Vt.) rebuked his presidential opponent Rep. Tim Ryan Timothy (Tim) RyanNow's the time to make 'Social Emotional Learning' a national priority Mourners gather outside Supreme Court after passing of Ruth Bader Ginsburg Lincoln Project hits Trump for criticizing Goodyear, 'an American company' MORE (D-Ohio) after Ryan questioned how comprehensive his “Medicare for All” platform would be.

Sanders maintained that his Medicare for All platform would offer more comprehensive health care coverage for people who would eventually lose their private plans, noting that it would include dental and vision plans for seniors as well as other facets, to which Ryan responded “You don’t know that, Bernie.”

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“I do know that, I wrote the damn bill,” Sanders fired back to applause, referencing the Medicare for All bill he’s introduced in the Senate.

Bernie Sanders on Medicare for All: "I wrote the damn bill." pic.twitter.com/ruRdPklxwz — Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) July 31, 2019

The exchange was part of a longer, fiery debate among the field about the federal government’s role in providing health care, with Sanders and Sen. Elizabeth Warren Elizabeth WarrenHillicon Valley: Subpoenas for Facebook, Google and Twitter on the cards | Wray rebuffs mail-in voting conspiracies | Reps. raise mass surveillance concerns On The Money: Anxious Democrats push for vote on COVID-19 aid | Pelosi, Mnuchin ready to restart talks | Weekly jobless claims increase | Senate treads close to shutdown deadline Democratic senators ask inspector general to investigate IRS use of location tracking service MORE (D-Mass) supporting a Medicare for All platform

But several moderates touted different plans that would allow Americans to keep private insurance and either expand the Affordable Care Act or include a public option to supplement private plans.

“Why do we got to be the party of taking something away from people?” former Rep. John Delaney John DelaneyCoronavirus Report: The Hill's Steve Clemons interviews Rep. Rodney Davis Eurasia Group founder Ian Bremmer says Trump right on China but wrong on WHO; CDC issues new guidance for large gatherings The Hill's Coronavirus Report: Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas says country needs to rethink what 'policing' means; US cases surpass 2 million with no end to pandemic in sight MORE (D-Md.), a staunch centrist, asked during the debate.

Polling has showed that health care has emerged as a top issue for Democratic voters, though what should be the solution to rising premiums and scant coverage has produced a sharp divide within the primary field.