Harris-Walz and American Health Care: What Would That Look Like?

“As a governor, a coach, a teacher and a veteran, he has contributed to working families like his,” Harris wrote on X (formerly Twitter). “It’s great to have him on the team.”

Now that the Democratic ticket is locked in, many are wondering what a Harris-Walz victory means for the future of the country. A May 2024 Pew Research Center poll found that health care is a major concern for voters heading into this election, raising questions about how Harris and Walz could change the country on a range of health care issues. Harris’ campaign is still in its early stages, and she hasn’t said all she has to say about the topic. But her experience in multiple health care fields informs her stance on a range of topics.

Health policy experts stress that much of what Harris and Walz can do in office will depend largely on what happens in Congress. “This is still a divided country,” said Dr. Leighton Ku, director of the Center for Health Policy Research at the Milken School of Public Health at George Washington University. “I think it’s unlikely that Harris will control both houses of Congress, but all kinds of things could happen.”

“No matter who the president is, reforming health care in the United States will be a difficult task given the power and lobbying power of health insurance companies,” said Dr. Perry N. Halkitis, dean of Rutgers University’s School of Public Health.

If Harris and Walz are elected in November, health policy researchers and doctors anticipate the following changes.

Reproductive rights will take center stage

Harris has repeatedly spoken out in support of reproductive health care. In December, she launched the Reproductive Freedom Tour, during which she held events to highlight the impact of abortion bans and shared the stories of people affected by strict reproductive rights legislation in states.

“Extremists across our country continue to launch an all-out assault on hard-won, hard-won freedoms by pursuing radical policies — from banning abortion in all 50 states to criminalizing doctors to forcing women to leave the state. , for freedom. “I will continue to fight for our fundamental freedoms while bringing together those across America who agree that every woman should have the right to make decisions about her own body, not the government. “

In March, Harris also made her first official visit to an abortion clinic, considered the first official visit by a sitting president or vice president to an abortion clinic. During that visit, she called abortion “a very serious health crisis facing women,” according to NPR.

“Harris is a long-time supporter of abortion rights, while Trump trumpeted his Supreme Court appointments that led to the overturning of Roe v. Wade,” said Larry Levitt, executive vice president of health policy at KFF. . wealth.

Walz also has a history of supporting abortion care. In 2023, he signed several bills into law to protect people seeking or providing abortion services in Minnesota. “Today, we are protecting the rights of Minnesotans and ensuring our state remains a place where people can freely get the care they need to live fulfilling lives,” he said in a statement at the time. “We are putting up firewalls. , to ensure Minnesotans are free to make their own health care decisions.”

But Levitt said there may be limits to what a Harris-Walz administration can accomplish. “The extent to which Harris or Trump can influence abortion access depends largely on who controls Congress, but they can take executive action to change policy to some extent,” he said.

Ku agrees. “There may be some room for her to do more in terms of executive action or really try to take legal action to sue states that are trying to further restrict abortion access,” he told CNN wealth. Levitt said Harris would likely continue to require hospitals to provide abortions in emergencies where a woman’s health is at risk, even in states that ban abortion.

Ultimately, Ku said Harris could have the biggest impact on reproductive rights if she can appoint one or two new justices to the Supreme Court. “If she is elected president, I expect she will have the opportunity to appoint one or two Supreme Court justices during her term,” he said. “This could lead to the possibility of a change of court.”

Healthcare may become more accessible and affordable

However, current policies in this area are still vague. “Harris has supported Medicare for All in the past and introduced a proposal in 2019 to gradually expand Medicare to everyone with the option to enroll in a private insurance plan,” Levitt said. “Harris has previously supported Medicare for All. The endorsement speaks to her desire to achieve Medicare for All, but I don’t think she will push it on the campaign trail and I don’t expect her to win the presidency.”

Walz also stressed the importance of access to health care. “What Minnesotans want from health care is simple,” Walz said in his 2019 inaugural address. “They don’t want to get sick in the first place. But if they do, they want care close to home at a price they can afford.

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

Ku agrees that Harris is unlikely to prioritize Medicare for All now. “She continues to support Medicaid expansion and keep the Affordable Care Act market strong,” he said.

Some drugs may have more price caps

Levitt noted that Harris campaigned on the Biden-Harris administration’s political victory over the pharmaceutical industry, which for the first time gave the government the power to negotiate drug prices in Medicare, including capping insulin deductibles at $35 per month. Dollar. “She has expressed a desire to take these drug cost relief measures further,” Levitt said.

“I think she will continue to pursue this goal,” Ku said. However, he noted that “some of it is court-related.”

Walz is also committed to helping constituents afford medication. In 2020, he signed a bill to help make insulin more affordable for Minnesotans. “Minnesotans should not die because they are forced to choose between staying afloat and providing the medicines they need to survive,” he said in a statement at the time. “Despite resistance from the pharmaceutical industry, people living with diabetes The courage and determination of Minnesotans who have lost loved ones to diabetes and their legislators to advance this bill is truly inspiring. This hard-working law will provide much-needed relief to Minnesotans who struggle to afford insulin. We must continue to put Minnesotans first and ensure people don’t struggle to afford the care they need.

Dr. Mariana Sokal, an associate professor in the Department of Health Policy and Management at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, predicts this will be a “key issue” in the Harris-Walz campaign. “Prioritizing prescription drug affordability and building on Vice President Harris’ accomplishments during the Biden administration is likely to gain traction,” she said. wealth. “Affordability of drug pricing will be on a stronger footing.”

Healthcare integration may be limited

Harris reportedly served as California’s attorney general, and during her tenure she actively fought against medical industry consolidation, where hospitals and other similar health-related companies merge. Politico. The driving factor is fear of rising prices.

The Harris-Walz administration may also try to crack down on private equity in the health care system, Ku said. “Private equity invests because there’s money to be made there,” he said. “But when it comes to private equity, the quality of care can go down a bit.”

Harris hasn’t said much publicly on the topic yet, but Ku expects she will over time. “I think the Harris administration might be interested in something like this,” he said.

There could be more money for nursing home care

Ku noted that the severity of the epidemic has exposed many problems in U.S. nursing homes. “Nursing homes are still struggling,” he said. “They’re having a hard time finding quality staff.” Ku noted that under the Biden-Harris administration, the Department of Health and Human Services issued new staffing requirements for nursing homes.

Walz also has a history of trying to support care. In August 2023, he helped raise $173 million to support care for Minnesotans. “This session, we are working bipartisanship to prioritize the needs of middle-class families and seniors. We are providing direct support to nursing homes across the state to ensure Minnesota seniors receive the quality care and safe environment they deserve,” he said in a statement. “By funding nursing homes and investing in workforce incentives, we are working to ensure our seniors have access to high-quality care while bringing new workers into this critical occupation and building the workforce of the future.”

Also in April, Harris announced rulings that would improve access to long-term care and the quality of caregiving. “A lot of people are saying, ‘Great, but how are we going to pay for this?’” said Ku, who suggested the Harris-Walz administration might try to increase funding for nursing homes — taking into account the baby boomer generation. This will be very popular. “I hope we’ll see this issue arise,” he said.

Overall, experts stressed that much remains to be revealed about what Harris-Walz would do on health care if elected. “This activity is still very new,” Ku said. “But it’s important to remember that what’s happening in Congress and the current Supreme Court is the limiting factor in change.”