Presidential Election Campaign Sets Tone for 2017 Congressional Activity

Pathologists and laboratory leaders who have not yet had their fill of politics just need to wait. As 2016 progresses, Republican and Democratic Presidential candidates are likely to create significant health care market noise, according to a Cain Brothers report, “Strategies for Healthcare Leaders: 2016 Healthcare Industry Outlook.”

The health care investment banking firm said the Presidential campaign is setting the tone for Congressional activity. “If Republicans recapture the White House, they will almost certainly retain control of both chambers of the Congress and be in a good position to repeal ObamaCare early in 2017,” the authors write. They also acknowledge that details about how candidates will actually do that are still lacking.

And if a Democrat wins? “They are likely to continue to encounter major difficulties engaging Republicans on legislation to fix difficulties that have emerged in implementing the Affordable Care Act (ACA),” the authors continue.

Below is an overview of the leading Presidential candidates’ views and plans for health care. While labs are not specifically mentioned, readers may be able to draw some conclusions on policies’ likely effects.

Republicans (included are candidates leading in polls at this writing) Ted Cruz expresses intent to reform Veterans Administration (VA) health care. He plans to bring “accountability back to the VA,” notes the campaign Web site, and expand options for service members that include more choices and faster service.

Cruz has also supported a repeal of ObamaCare, according to On the Issues, a non-profit organization that provides information to voters.

Marco Rubio articulates a program to replace ObamaCare. His campaign Web site shares these details on the replacement:

• Provide Americans with an advanced, refundable tax credit to be used to purchase insurance;

• Ensure access for vulnerable populations by expanding access to consumer- centered health plans and reforming insurance regulations;

• Give states a per-capita block grant, preserving funding for Medicaid.

Donald Trump voices intent to replace ObamaCare with Health Savings Accounts, according to On the Issues.

Democrats According to Hillary Clinton, affordable health care is a basic human right. She has a plan to:

• Defend the ACA and build on it to slow growth of out-of-pocket costs;

• Address rising prescription drug prices and encourage drug companies to invest in research instead of price increases;

• Protect women’s access to reproductive health care.

Bernie Sanders announces “Medicare for all” and a federally administered single payer health care program. Here are some of his program’s details, according to the candidate’s Web site:

ffThe plan will cover the entire continuum of care and include prescription medications, medical equipment, diagnostics and treatments; ffPeople can choose a health care provider; ffThe plan will be paid for by: a 6.2% income-based health care premium paid by employers; a 2.2% income-based premium paid by households; progressive income tax rates; taxing capital gains and dividends the same as income from work; limit tax deductions for wealthy people; a responsible estate tax; and savings from health tax expenditures.

Takeaway: Presidential candidates’ health care plans differ in specificity. Candidates say they either intend to repeal and replace the ACA, or build on it. Health care will likely get a lot of attention as the Presidential election nears. And the make-up of Congress will be a factor in repeal or repair of the ACA.