Healthcare reform did not make the list of top voter issues in the November 2022 midterm elections. Abortion did make the list, especially for women, Democrats, young voters, and non-white voters. But abortion was not just about healthcare – voters saw it as an economic issue, a women’s empowerment issue, and more broadly a legal rights issue.
That said, healthcare reform is not going away. This blog provides a sample of emerging news stories that make the point.
- Sanders (I-VT) and Cassidy (R-LA) to lead Senate Health Committee. Sen. Bernie Sanders is an outspoken advocate for Medicare-for-All and for drug price caps. Cassidy, a medical doctor, prioritizes surprise medical bills. In 2017 he spearheaded the effort to repeal and replace Obamacare.
- FTX cryptocurrency collapse puts pandemic preparedness projects on hold. FTX filed for bankruptcy on November 11 putting a halt to the $70 million already spent and billions more pledged on pandemic research and prevention.
- Lame duck Congress is wrangling over COVID relief funds and Medicaid coverage for new mothers. The Biden Administration seeks $10 billion for ongoing COVID vaccines and treatments. It seeks to make permanent the mandatory Medicaid coverage for 12 months post delivery.
- House and Senate Republicans propose funding changes to Medicare. For example, House Republicans propose raising age of eligibility to 67. Sen. Rick Scott’s “11-Point Plan” proposes sunsetting Medicare and Social Security every 5 years, requiring re-authorization. Medicare is projected to be insolvent by 2028. The Washington Post gave a “4 Pinocchios” rating to Sen. Patty Murray’s claim ahead of the election that Republicans were trying to “end Medicare.”
- Oregon passes Measure 111 healthcare amendment. By a narrow margin Oregonians added to the state constitution a right to affordable healthcare.
Meanwhile, NHE grew 9.7% to $4.1 trillion in 2020, or $12,530 per person, and accounted for 19.7% of Gross Domestic Product (GDP), according to CMS.
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Title: Voting location in Alabama in 2017 Election
By: Terri Sewell, Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons
URL: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Voting_location_in_Alabama_during_2017_election.jpg
Fixing U.S. Healthcare 
