Health care reform might be a focus in midterms. For Congress, pursuing it will be an uphill climb
Lawmakers are expected to discuss health care extensively this year, but significant legislative progress is unlikely. President Trump has sent mixed messages about health care policy, initially indicating no further legislation was needed, then suggesting it would be a focus ahead of the midterm elections, with preparations including changes at the Department of Health and Human Services.
Lawmakers will likely have a lot to say about health care this year. Paradoxically, they probably won’t accomplish much on the subject.
President Trump has sent conflicting messages about how he wants to handle health care issues. On Feb. 9, he said Republicans had passed all the health care legislation they need for his term and that he was no longer interested in pursuing it.
Ten days later, he traveled to Georgia to talk about the administration’s plans to lower the cost of living, where he put health care back on the agenda. CNN reported the administration is preparing to make health care a central focus ahead of the midterm elections. The reshuffling of senior officials at the Department of Health and Human Services is the first step in those preparations.
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