Discussion 3

Choose one currently active U.S. health policy. Imagine running it through the modification phase, and you have been asked by President Trump to evaluate it.

• What changes, if any, would you suggest making to the policy at this time, and why?
• Defend your suggestions using current data or legislative trends.
• Share your comments on the policy modification suggestions provided by your classmates.

This discussion is a good opportunity to choose or narrow down a topic for your upcoming research paper. You may choose any active policy, but here are 7 current examples just for your reference:

1. Affordable Care Act (ACA) Subsidy Expiration: After the enhanced tax credits expired in late 2025, many Marketplace enrollees saw premiums rise significantly. Discuss whether a three-year “clean extension” is necessary or if the shift toward Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) for Bronze/Catastrophic plans is a better long-term fix.
2. The “Great Healthcare Plan” & Direct Subsidies: President Trumps 2026 initiative proposes sending healthcare subsidies directly to patients rather than insurance companies. Evaluate the feasibility of this “patient-direct” funding model versus the traditional carrier-payment system.
3. Medicaid Work Requirements (OBBBA): Under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, many states are re-introducing work and income verification requirements for Medicaid. Analyze the impact of these requirements on coverage rates versus their goal of reducing federal spending.
4. Chronic Disease & Food Quality (MAHA): The “Make America Healthy Again” initiative focuses on removing artificial dyes and chemicals from the U.S. food supply and updating school nutrition standards. Assess the role of the USDA and FDA in regulating food as a form of “preventive medicine.”
5. International Reference Drug Pricing: The administration has moved to a “Most-Favored-Nation” model, aiming to match the lowest drug prices paid by other developed nations. Evaluate how this policy affects pharmaceutical innovation versus patient out-of-pocket costs.
6. Reproductive Health & “Personhood” Legislation: With several states introducing “fetal personhood” language into health statutes, discuss the legal and medical implications for IVF, miscarriage management, and emergency obstetric care.
7. AI Deregulation in Clinical Settings: Current policy seeks to accelerate the adoption of AI and “ambient listening” tech in hospitals to reduce administrative burnout. Examine the trade-offs between rapid AI integration and patient data privacy.

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