Implications of the Election for Health Care Policy

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On November 5, President Donald Trump won a decisive victory to return to the White House as the nation’s 47th president, defeating Vice President Kamala Harris. Republicans also won back the majority in the Senate; though, certain election results have yet to be confirmed—such as control of the House and the size of the Republican Senate majority. Regardless of those outcomes, the Republicans’ victory in the White House and Senate stand to reshape the trajectory of the nation’s health care system. 

Health care was not a dominant Trump campaign issue. As a result, the president-elect has indicated relatively little about his health policy priorities for his second term. However, other conservative publications, such as the Heritage Foundation’s and the America First Policy Institute’s , indicate potential Republican priorities. While the president-elect sought to distance himself from these principles at points throughout the campaign, both were drafted by policymakers close to President Trump who are expected to play roles in his Administration. 

Republicans in both the House and Senate will hold leadership elections on November 13. Once the leadership structures solidify, the path forward for the remainder of the Congress may become clearer. The lame duck Congress will need to address government funding before December 20 and decide whether any additional policies will accompany any government funding legislation.

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