Scott Public Relations is pleased to continue its two-part series to provide summaries of the presidential candidates’ healthcare public policy positions. In so doing, we hope to provide compelling information for further thought and discussion. Recognizing that 1) everyone needs quality healthcare 2) our nation is in a healthcare crisis and 3) a new president will bring a new healthcare agenda to America, we are closely following the political parties this presidential campaign.

It has been six years since the Affordable Care Act (ACA) was signed into law by President Barack Obama. In that time it has remained one of the most debated topics in Washington, DC, and has survived numerous Supreme Court challenges and repeal attempts by factions of the Congress. With healthcare reform a top priority for both political parties this campaign season, the nation’s healthcare system is indeed at a crossroads. With both nominees for president embracing distinctly different and opposing points of view in healthcare policy, it’s important to understand the differences in approach and policy angle. As the great baseball player Yogi Berra once said, “When you come to a fork in the road, take it.” That’s exactly what the nation is preparing to do.

Donald Trump’s healthcare proposals largely involve various rejections of the ACA. His first step would be a day one repeal of Obamacare with the goal of eliminating the individual mandate to purchase health insurance.  Mr. Trump proposes to change laws and enable healthcare vendors to offer insurance in any state, as long as the plan complies with that state’s laws. He would also allow individuals, in addition to businesses, to deduct health insurance premium payments from their tax returns within the current tax system.

A Trump presidency would let individuals use Health Savings Accounts (HSAs), with cumulative and tax-free contributions, which would become part of that individual’s inheritable estate.  He would also mandate price transparency from all healthcare providers, block grant Medicaid to states, and remove market barriers for drug providers offering cheap and reliable products.

The Trump campaign qualifies that these proposals are a starting point to his broader healthcare agenda for the nation; however, his focal point is essentially a rejection of the ACA.  In principle, Mr. Trump’s vision for healthcare as articulated to date, intends to lower costs, improve care, and expands coverage of healthcare while “following free market principles that will restore economic freedom and certainty.” These ideas fit a conservative/Republican party ideology, but the voters will determine whether he will have the opportunity to put this vision into action.

To learn more about Trump’s healthcare vision, visit his website: https://www.donaldjtrump.com.

Image source: https://www.donaldjtrump.com/about/.

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