President-elect Donald Trump is expected to maintain a strong stance on deregulation and prioritize policies that address health care access and costs. Looking ahead, the Trump administration intends to keep its health campaign promises with four key themes:
Promote access to health care through market competition and transparency Strengthen flexibility and choice in health care for states and individuals Focus on deregulation by reversing or modifying Biden-era policies With “America First” principles strengthen national security
President-elect Trump's second term represents a major shift in the political landscape, which could have a profound impact on the healthcare industry. It is important to consider how the situation has changed since President-elect Trump's first administration. For example, efforts to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act (ACA) no longer enjoy the same level of political or public support as they did in 2016. Instead, President-elect Trump's recent comments suggest he takes credit for “saving” the ACA. ;This may focus on sector-wide technical fixes rather than fundamental reforms.
The new Trump administration also faces significant tensions within the party between traditional establishment Republicans and populist Republicans, who are increasingly skeptical of the traditional Republican platform regarding their pro-business, small-government ideology. It is necessary to promote cooperation between the two countries. For example, despite the Republican Party's traditional stance against interventionist government policies, President-elect Trump has vowed to “confront Big Pharma” and address activities deemed anticompetitive. Similarly, Vice President-elect J.D. Vance has announced his support for FTC Commissioner Lina Khan by August 2024, and is pushing for mandates such as a $35 cap on insulin across commercial plans by August 2024. I remain a supporter. True, there is a contradiction in this. Although the campaign has emphasized a deregulatory priority throughout the election, the administration's policies could diverge further from the traditional Republican approach than in years past.
A wide range of possibilities exists as many organizations continue to scenario plan for the impact of the election. On the one hand, policy shifts can move at a snail's pace, with seemingly dramatic proposals tamed through debate, judicial proceedings, and eventual implementation. But on the other side, there is a combination of a right-leaning Supreme Court, a White House with fewer Republican traditionalists to influence decisions, and a wide range of dynamic proposals. The debate within the Republican Party also considers prominent policies that either distrust the government (and an interest in dismantling its core foundations) or an interest in leveraging overall government power toward more populist policies. This creates further uncertainty.
One indicator of potential headwinds will be the selection of agency leaders and policy advisers, including those who have not been confirmed by the Senate. The nontraditional backgrounds, experiences, and priorities that appointees bring to the executive branch may indicate a degree of potential disruption and uncertainty. Equally influential is the length of time each appointee remains in the position. This is because short terms limit the ability to implement significant changes and create influence.
Closely monitoring events and changing scenario plans accordingly will increase the chances that the Trump administration will fulfill campaign promises, continue unfinished business from the president-elect's previous term, and set the future trajectory of the Republican Party. In the process, it can help organizations prepare for change.
