S3, Ep 5- The 2022 Midterms: What to Expect for Health Care Policy

As of the recording of this episode, control of the U.S. Senate and the U.S. House of Representatives has not yet been determined, which means that like many other issues the future of health care policy for the coming years remains unknown. Could a change in the balance of power mean changes to existing programs? What will be the focus of Congress in the coming years regarding health care? “At the end of the day, whether it's a Republican Congress, or a Democratic Congress or Senate or a governorship doesn't matter, because the patient issues of trying to get healthier, to be kept healthy, and to be able to access medicines and physicians and hospitals is the same. And both parties have a responsibility to patients to be able to get them better, quicker and faster,” says Dr. Robert Popovian. Among the highlights in this episode: 1:04: In our next episode, the hosts will be taking questions from our audience: to participate, send your questions or audio clips to [email protected] 2:11: Oklahoma, Georgia, Illinois, and Washington have all passed accumulator or maximiser bans 3:23: One of the main health care issues that should remain a priority in 2023 is out-of-pocket spending for patients 4:00: Dr. Popovian explains how PBMs (Pharmacy Benefit Managers) along with insurers are pocketing rebates that should instead benefit patients 5:17: The importance of transparency in health care policies, especially when it comes to PBMs and money and rebate circulation between health care stakeholders 6:36: According to Dr. Popovian, one of the best ways to address transparency and pharmaceutical company pricing is, “to create an environment whereby [the] pharmaceutical industry has a stake also in the outcomes of these drugs… So instead of just setting a price and getting paid for it, they need to make sure that these drugs work in the patients.” 7:51: What can the next Congress do to maintain and ensure innovation in the medical fields while also ensuring patients are going to benefit better and more? 8:51: Dr. Popovian reviews which health care priorities should be the focus at the state level 11:31: Co-host Conner Mertens describes what patients are paying attention to in the new era of governorships at both the state level and the federal level 12:20: “Health care is bipartisan. Access to health care is a bipartisan issue,” says Dr. Popovian 13:31: Dr. Popovian shares some final thoughts Contact Our Hosts Dr. Robert Popovian, Chief Science Policy Officer at GHLF: [email protected] Conner Mertens, Patient Advocate and Community Outreach Manager at GHLF: [email protected] We want to hear what you think. Send your comments, or a video or audio clip of yourself, to [email protected] Listen to all episodes of HealthcareSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.