Sen. Katie Britt, R-Ala., has introduced the ‘Kids Off Social Media Act’ in the Senate to address growing concerns about children’s mental health. Meanwhile, Americans are increasingly dissatisfied with the Biden administration’s handling of healthcare. Recent polling reveals a significant majority of voters believe healthcare costs have risen under President Biden, with 59% reporting higher healthcare and health insurance costs, and 50% citing increased prescription drug prices. Americans are apprehensive that a second Biden term would further escalate healthcare expenses. This sentiment contrasts with the perception of a second Trump term, where a smaller proportion anticipate rising healthcare costs.
The polling highlights a growing dissatisfaction with the government-centric approach to healthcare exemplified by the Obama and Biden administrations. Many Americans believe that healthcare affordability has suffered under Obamacare and that a return to patient-centered care is necessary. Republicans, having previously attempted a full replacement of Obamacare in 2017, are now urged to focus on targeted reforms to address specific issues within the existing system.
After 14 years, it’s clear that Obamacare has failed to deliver on its promise of affordable care. Republicans should prioritize reforms that center the healthcare system around the patient, emphasizing price transparency, improved patient outcomes, and cost savings. One crucial step would be to strengthen and expand former President Trump’s price transparency executive orders for providers and payers. This would empower patients with the right to know healthcare costs, shielding this right from bureaucratic interference.
To fully realize the benefits of price transparency, patients need an insurance system that rewards them for finding better deals at lower costs. The current system of flat premiums, co-pays, and deductibles doesn’t incentivize patients to shop around. Patients should not be penalized with higher premium rates or cost-sharing simply because a provider is out-of-network. Employers, as key stakeholders in healthcare costs, also require transparency to negotiate better rates for their employees. A recent RAND analysis revealed that commercial payers paid hospitals, on average, 254% of Medicare rates in 2022. This highlights the lack of transparency and the potential for inflated costs in the healthcare system.
Site neutral payment policies would address this issue by standardizing payment rates for the same procedures across different providers within a specific geographic area. This would save taxpayers and patients money while also discouraging hospital consolidation, which often drives up costs. The current system incentivizes hospitals to acquire independent surgery practices, a practice that can lead to increased costs.
In a significant move for patients, Republicans should modernize Obamacare subsidies to directly benefit individuals rather than funneling billions of taxpayer dollars to large insurance companies. These subsidies should be made portable, allowing individuals to apply them to any state-approved individual or small group plan and utilize them in Health Savings Accounts (HSAs).
Finally, Republicans should strengthen safety net programs like Medicaid by prioritizing care for the working poor and disabled. Expanding Medicaid to a broader population often comes at the expense of those who are most in need, leading to longer wait times, reduced access to care, and poorer health outcomes. Recent research from Harvard and New York University revealed that nearly one-third of Medicaid enrollees in 2022 were unaware of their enrollment. It is crucial to establish work requirements within Medicaid to ensure that resources are directed towards those who are genuinely in need and actively seeking employment or educational opportunities.
These reforms aim to shift power away from large government entities and insurance companies, empowering patients and doctors to take control of healthcare. They would make healthcare and coverage more affordable while simultaneously improving the quality of care for all Americans. With Americans increasingly aware of the failures of the Democrats’ healthcare promises, Republicans should champion these ideas to build momentum for their implementation in 2025.
