Experts Discuss Making U.S. Healthcare More Accessible and Affordable at Symposium
TL/DR –
A symposium at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health discussed the future of U.S. healthcare, focusing on access, affordability, and equity. Topics covered included the rising cost of healthcare, health disparities, and the contentious issue of Medicaid expansion. The event also addressed the impact of private interest groups and the need for stronger regulations on Medicare Advantage plans, as well as the implications of recent and potential policy changes on prescription drug costs.
Experts Discuss Future of U.S. Health Care at Symposium
On October 2, 2024, experts gathered at a symposium at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health to discuss the future of U.S. health care. The topics of accessibility, affordability, and equity in the U.S. healthcare system under the next presidential administration were the main points of discussion.
Eric Rubin, the editor-in-chief of the New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM), and Jane Kim, the School’s dean for academic affairs, introduced the event, which saw a diverse range of health policy experts contribute their insights.
Experts addressed key healthcare issues, such as insurance coverage, accessibility barriers, the rising cost of health care, and ongoing health disparities.
Political differences in views towards health care were highlighted by Robert Blendon, director of the Harvard Opinion Research Program. He underscored the divergence of Republican and Democrat perspectives on government spending in health care, among other issues.
A discussion on health care accessibility was led by Sherry Glied, dean of New York University’s school of public service. She highlighted the improvements in health insurance coverage but drew attention to the imminent expiry of tax credit subsidies which could impact healthcare accessibility.
Regarding Medicaid, Ben Sommers, Professor of Health Care Economics at Harvard Chan School, highlighted potential solutions to increase coverage, including state and federal policies that allow for extended eligibility periods.
Professor J. Michael McWilliams, from Harvard Medical School, addressed concerns about rising health care costs and the need for stricter regulations to ensure affordability. Similarly, Stacie Dusetzina, a health policy professor at Vanderbilt, discussed recent improvements and potential challenges related to the affordability of prescription drugs.
Experts also stressed the importance of addressing structural determinants of health inequities, including structural racism, as highlighted by Ruqaiijah Yearby, a health law professor at Ohio State University.
Professor Marcella Alsan from Harvard Chan School spoke about the influence of interest groups on health policy, emphasizing the need for vigilance in identifying and understanding their roles. She pointed out that four of the top 10 federal lobbyists come from the health care industry, indicating their significant impact on shaping health policy.
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