VP Debate Leaves Health Care Questions Unanswered

As we find ourselves less than one month away from Election Day, last week’s Vice-Presidential debate between Senator JD Vance and Governor Tim Walz left many health care policy enthusiasts—myself included—wanting a bit more. Although both candidates touched on critical issues such as prescription drug prices and health insurance coverage, the discussion often drifted toward defending past action or critiquing opponents, rather than outlining concrete future plans.¹

Here's what I hoped to hear—but didn’t.

Prescription Drug Prices: Is it a Clear Path Forward?

Both candidates acknowledged the importance of lowering prescription drug costs, but neither presented a comprehensive plan during the debate. However, based on their past actions and stated intentions, there is some insight into what each administration might pursue:

If Harris wins²:

• Continuation and potential expansion of Medicare drug price negotiations, which her tie-breaking vote helped enact in 2022. 
• A potential extension of the annual $2000 cap on Medicare beneficiaries’ total drug spending to all Americans with insurance.
• Consideration of a policy allowing the government to seize patents on some high-cost drugs developed with federal funds to increase competition.

If Trump wins²:

• Likely retention of Medicare price negotiations, unless the pharmaceutical industry offers a more compelling alternative.
• Potential focus on increasing generic and biosimilar competition.
• Consideration of importing drugs made in the US but sold overseas at lower prices.

While these insights are helpful, they still leave voters with some big questions:

1. What concrete steps would each administration take to implement and expand these initiatives?
2. How would they balance cost reduction with maintaining incentives for pharmaceutical innovation?
3. What’s their stance on allowing Medicare to negotiate prices for additional drugs?

As voters, we need to understand the candidates’ comprehensive visions for tackling this multifaceted challenge, not just broad strokes or past accomplishments. Moreover, I want to hear how these plans would interact with other aspects of health care policy. How would drug pricing reforms affect overall health care costs and insurance premiums? What measures would be taken to ensure that cost reductions are passed onto patients?

The Missing Piece: Comprehensive Health Care System Reform

Although the debate touched on specific aspects of health care, it largely sidestepped discussions about broader systemic reforms. The future of US health care isn’t just about managing costs; it’s about reshaping the system to provide more equitable, high-quality care. Here are some pressing areas where I could use some more clarity:

• Addressing workforce shortages: One of the most critical challenges in the health care system is the shortage of professionals across many fields, including primary care, nursing, and specialty care. This issue is particularly severe in rural and underserved areas, where access to health care is already limited. How would each candidate ensure that more doctors, nurses, and other health professionals are trained and incentivized to serve in these communities? Can we expect expanded federal funding to address these gaps?
• Balancing quality with affordability: Cost reduction should not come at the expense of quality. Candidates need to present specific strategies for improving the quality of care while ensuring that costs remain manageable for patients. Would they explore value-based care models?
• Modernizing health care infrastructure: With the rapid development of digital health tools and technologies, the modernization of the health care system is crucial. What role would they play in advancing telemedicine, integrating electronic health records, and supporting digital health initiatives like those driven by the newly established Digital Health Advisory Committee? 

Moving Beyond Past Actions to Future Plans

At this stage of the election cycle, voters need more than a rehashing of past accomplishments or criticisms of opponents’ records. We need forward-looking, detailed plans that address the complexities of our health care system. Voters deserve to know not just what candidates oppose, but what they propose to make health care more accessible, affordable, and effective for all Americans.

Remember, regardless of your political affiliation, staying informed about health care policy is crucial. Let’s keep pushing for the substantive policy discussions we deserve.

Happy voting!

Join me on Wednesdays as I highlight key court decisions, review notable health policies, and analyze what’s behind the bill in health care.

References

1. Becket S. Read the full VP transcript from the Walz-Vance showdown. CBS News. October 2, 2024. Accessed October 8, 2024. https://www.cbsnews.com/news/full-vp-debate-transcript-walz-vance-2024/

2. Armour S. For pharma, Trump vs. Harris is a showdown between two industry foes. KFF Health News. August 26, 2024. Accessed October 8, 2024. https://kffhealthnews.org/news/article/trump-versus-harris-showdown-big-pharma-foes-drug-pricing/