WASHINGTON — Newly empowered Republican leadership in the White House and in Congress will likely bring some good news and some bad news for the health care industry.
It’s unclear which side of the Republican wave that brought President-elect Trump to power will win out on health care policy — the pro-business, anti-regulation, traditional conservative approach that favors lower taxes, or the populist wing of the party harnessed by Robert F. Kennedy Jr. that is distrustful of institutions and eager to blame large corporations, including major pharmaceutical companies, for Americans’ poor health.
Insurers could be squeezed if Democrat-passed subsidies to Affordable Care Act plans expire, driving people out of the market. And if Republicans turn to cuts to Medicaid to fund their other priorities, hospitals could get saddled with more uninsured patients.
