Health Care on the Ballot: What the Election Could Mean for the Inflation Reduction Act’s (IRA’s) Medicare Reforms – HCIM

A presidential election year puts a spotlight on the major parties’ health policies, and this year is no different. Vice President Kamala Harris, the Democratic candidate for president, has touted the last four years of accomplishments under the Biden Administration as a foundation on which she will continue to build. Her vision embraces a strong role for the federal government in making health care more accessible and affordable. Meanwhile, the Republican candidate for president, former President Donald Trump, has revealed very little about his health policy agenda. However, what little President Trump has said combined with the platforms of Republican policy leaders surrounding Trump, many of whom played prominent roles in his Administration, promote a very different health care platform from Vice President Harris.  A Trump Administration is likely to move away from a strong federal role in health insurance regulation in favor of increased private market strategies and, potentially, restrictions on Medicaid.

And presidential elections are not the only elections this year that will influence health policy. This November, there are a total of 468 seats up for election in Congress (33 Senate seats and all 435 House of Representative seats). State races are also featuring health policy prominently, including a few competitive races for governor, like the one in North Carolina where reproductive health is firmly on the ballot. These political races all have implications for the health policies that we will see in 2025 and beyond.

This fall, Health Care in Motion will highlight important health policy areas that may be impacted by the upcoming elections and what advocates for people with complex and chronic conditions need to know heading into November. We begin with the IRA’s Medicare reforms, a signature accomplishment of the Biden Administration.

Read our latest Health Care in Motion.