Insights on J.D. Vance’s Major Health Care Policies & VC Investments
TL/DR –
Senator J.D. Vance, the former running mate of ex-President Trump, has a history of investing in healthcare companies and advocating for healthcare policies that often differ from the traditional GOP base. Vance’s healthcare policy platforms have recently aligned more with Trump’s, drawing criticism from conservatives. Vance also has a history of supporting policies that limit rights for transgender people, deny healthcare coverage to people in the DACA program, and challenge Covid-19 vaccine and mask mandates.
Sen. J.D. Vance’s Health Care Investments and Policies
Senator J.D. Vance, chosen as former President Trump’s running mate, has a history of investing in health care ventures and pushing health care policies that sometimes clash with those of his party base. He’s invested in biotech startups, drug discovery aid companies, health data corporations, and health tech platforms, as revealed in his federal financial disclosures.
Vance’s rise to prominence followed the 2016 publication of his book “Hillbilly Elegy” about his impoverished childhood in Appalachia. He has since co-founded a venture capital firm, Narya Capital, with backing from billionaire Peter Thiel, venture capital giant Marc Andreessen, and ex-Google CEO Eric Schmidt. The firm’s portfolio is health care-focused.
The 2024 Republican platform hints that Trump intends to boost the party’s fight against gender-affirming care while increasing transparency and access to new, affordable health care options. Vance, a populist within the Republican party, has shown willingness to deviate from party lines on health care matters.
Vance voiced support in 2022 to AARP for Democrats’ plans to negotiate drug prices in Medicare. Conversely, he supports the party line on issues like denying federal health insurance to children brought to the U.S. by parents without legal immigration status — an issue Trump raised during the first presidential debate.
Vance has also shown ties to the pharmaceutical industry, with financial backing from former Celgene chairman Bob Hugin, who confronted criticism for price hikes on a cancer drug during his failed Senate bid. Hugin donated significantly to a super PAC supporting Vance in 2022.
Vance’s Posture on Public Health, Immigrants’ Health Care, and COVID-19 Measures
Vance’s approach to health care policy has gradually aligned more with Trump’s stance. For instance, he’s changed his position on exceptions to abortion bans. Vance has drawn criticism from anti-abortion advocates, including some GOP state lawmakers.
He has advocated for limiting transgender rights. Last year, Vance introduced a bill that would criminalize providing gender-affirming care to minors and ban taxpayer funding for gender-affirming care procedures, aligning with a Republican party priority.
On the COVID-19 front, Vance has opposed vaccine and mask mandates, calling them an invasion of medical privacy in a 2021 editorial. He introduced a bill last year to prohibit mask mandates.
Vance’s Investments in Health Care
Vance’s financial disclosures reveal significant investments in health care. His largest investments are in AmplifyBio and Kriya Therapeutics, both involving the development of treatments for various diseases. His smaller investments include a range of companies operating in pharmaceutical development, provider training, medical devices, and data and software development.
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