How would US health care change with the Harris-Walz system?

“As a governor, coach, teacher and veteran, you are taken to families that work like home,” Harris wrote on X, formerly Twitter. “It’s great to have him on the team.”

Now that the Democratic ticket has been closed, many are wondering what Harris-Walz’s victory could mean for the country going forward. A May 2024 poll by the Pew Research Center found that health care is a top concern for voters heading into this election, with questions about what Harris and Walz would change across the spectrum. most of the health issues in the country. Harris’ campaign is still in its early stages, and he hasn’t shared his full thoughts on the topic yet. But his background in several areas of health care informs his views on many issues.

Health policy experts stress that much of what Harris and Walz can do in office depends on what happens in Congress. “This is still a divided country,” says Leighton Ku, PhD, MPH., director of the Center for Health Policy Research at the George Washington School of Public Health’s Milken Institute. “I don’t think Harris would have control of both houses of Congress, but all kinds of things could happen.”

Perry N. Halkitis, Ph.D., dean of the Rutgers School of Public Affairs says: “Regardless of who is president, reforming health care in the United States is a long shot because of the power and influence of influence of health insurance companies. Good health.

Here’s what health policy researchers and doctors expect to change if Harris and Walz take the floor in November.

Reproductive rights will be focused

Harris has been vocal about his support for access to child care. In December, she launched the Reproductive Freedoms Tour in which she held events to highlight the fall of abortion restrictions and share the stories of people affected by strict laws on reproductive rights in countries theirs.

“Extremists across our country are continuing their all-out assault against hard-won, hard-fought freedoms as they push their extreme policies—from abortion bans to in all 50 states and criminalizing doctors, forcing women out of the country to get the care they need,” he said in a statement at the time. “I will continue to fight for our fundamental freedoms while rallying Americans everywhere who believe that every woman should have the right to make decisions about her own body — not the government.”

In March, Harris also made what is believed to be the first official visit to an abortion clinic by a sitting president or vice president. During that visit, he called abortion access “the most serious health issue facing women,” according to NPR.

“Harris is a longtime supporter of abortion rights, while Trump promoted his nomination to the Supreme Court that overturned Roe v. Wade,” said Larry Levitt, executive vice president for Policy. of Life at KFF, he says. Good luck.

Walz also has a history of supporting access to abortion care. In 2023, he signed several bills into law to protect people seeking or providing abortions in Minnesota. “Today, we are defending the rights of Minnesotans and making sure our state remains a place where people have the freedom to get the care they need to live their full lives,” he said. like that time. “We’re building a firewall to ensure Minnesotans have the freedom to make their own health decisions.”

But Levitt says the Harris-Walz system may be limited in what it can achieve. “How much Harris or Trump can do to affect access to abortion will depend a lot on who controls Congress, but there are executive actions they can take,” he says. to change the policy to some extent,” he says.

To believe. “He would have room to do more in terms of executive actions or trying to take legal action to sue states that try to restrict access to abortion,” he says. Good luck. Harris can continue to push for the need for hospitals to provide emergency abortions where a woman’s health is at risk, even in areas where abortion is prohibited, Levitt says.

Ultimately, Ku says Harris could have a big impact on reproductive rights if he can put a new justice or two on the Supreme Court. “If he’s elected president, I would expect him to have the opportunity to nominate one or two Supreme Court justices during his term,” he says. “That leads to an opportunity to change the Council.”

Health care can be readily available and accessible

However, the policies in this regard are unclear at present. “Harris has supported Medicare for All in the past, proposing a proposal in 2019 that would have gradually expanded Medicare to everyone with the option to sign up for a private insurance plan,” Levitt said. “Harris’ past support for Medicare for all shows his desire for universal coverage, but I don’t expect him to push it on the campaign trail or if he wins the presidency.”

Walz also emphasized the importance of access to health care. “What Minnesotans want in their health care is simple,” Walz said in his 2019 speech. “They don’t want to get sick from the start. But if they do, they want care that is affordable and close to home. ”

Levitt said he expects the administration to focus more on making the Affordable Care Act—also known as Obamacare—more affordable.

Ku agrees that it is unlikely that Harris will put Medicare for All on the front burner now. “He continues to support Medicaid expansion and keep the Affordable Care Act market strong,” he says.

There may be more shortages than the prescribed medicine

Levitt points out that Harris campaigned on the political victory of the Biden-Harris administration over the pharmaceutical industry that gave the government the power to negotiate drug prices in Medicare for the first time, including capping copays. of insulin for $35 a month. “He has shown that he wants to take these measures to relieve drug costs,” Levitt says.

“I think he will continue to pursue this,” Ku says. However, he points out that “some of them are tied up in court.”

Walz also has a history of working to help candidates pay for their medications. In 2020, he signed a bill into law that would help Minnesotans pay for their insulin. “The people of Minnesota should not die because they are forced to choose between putting food on the table and providing the drugs they need to live,” he said in a statement at the time. “Despite opposition from the pharmaceutical industry, the grit and determination of Minnesotans with diabetes, Minnesotans who have lost loved ones to diabetes, and lawmakers have pass this bill. It’s really encouraging. This hard-fought law will provide much-needed relief to Minnesotans who are struggling to afford their insulin. We must continue to put Minnesotans first and to ensure that people do not struggle to get the care they need.”

Mariana Socal, PhD, assistant professor in the Department of Health Policy and Management at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, expects that this will be a “key issue” for the Harris-Walz campaign. “Having the cost of prescription drugs front and center and based on what Vice President Harris had during the Biden Administration will probably be highlighted more,” he says. Good luck. “There’s going to be a strong place to get drug prices.”

Health care coordination can be limited

Harris was a former attorney general of California, and he fought hard against the consolidation of the health care industry – conditions in which hospitals and other health-related companies are meet – at the time he was there, to follow Politics. The reason for the drive was the concern that prices would increase.

The Harris-Walz administration may also try to fight private equity ownership in health care systems, Ku says. He says: “Private equity is investing because there is money to be made there. But the quality of care can be a bit compromised when private equity is involved.

Harris hasn’t spoken much publicly about the matter, but Ku expects he will in time. “That’s something I think the Harris administration would be interested in,” he says.

There may be more money for nursing home care

Ku points out that the height of the epidemic has revealed many problems with nursing homes in the US. “Nursing homes are struggling,” he says. “They have a lot of trouble finding quality workers.” Under the Biden-Harris administration, the Department of Health and Human Services issued new requirements for nursing home workers, Ku notes.

Walz, too, has a history of trying to support nursing care. In August 2023, he helped bring in $173 million in funding to support nursing care for Minnesotans. “This conference, we’ve worked hard to put the needs of middle-class families and seniors first. We’re providing direct support to nursing homes across the state to ensure Minnesota’s seniors have the care they need. of quality and the safe spaces they deserve,” he said. “By supporting nursing homes and investing in workforce development, we are working to ensure seniors receive high-quality care while bringing new workers into this important profession and building the workforce of the future. “

Also in April, Harris announced decisions to improve the long-term care experience, as well as the quality of care services. “A lot of people were saying, ‘That’s great, but how are we going to pay for this?'” Ku says, suggesting that the Harris-Walz administration may try to increase funding for the homes. “I hope we’ll see this happen,” he says.

In general, experts stress that there is still much to be revealed about what the Harris-Walz group would do for health care if elected. “This campaign is still new,” Ku says. “But it’s important to remember that what’s going on with Congress and the current Supreme Court are factors that limit the potential for change.”