Change, Not Love, is in the Air

I always loved the song of the late 70’s, love is in the air. I wouldn’t, however, say that love was in the air to describe the relationship between the two main parties leading up to last month’s elections. We have an absolutely polarized political environment at almost every level, as was demonstrated in the debates, the advertising, and the rhetoric that existed at every campaign event. While the outcome surprised some, it was decisive, and from my point of view, it signals that change is most certainly in the air.

I first want to remind us of some facts about this election. Over 150 million Americans voted, and for the first time in two decades, the Republican winner won the popular vote. We need to remember that more people voted for President-elect Trump than any other candidate, the people have spoken. The Republican party won a three-seat majority in the Senate and holds a 220 to 215 majority in the House, a slimmer lead than they had the past two years. What is crucial to realize is that the Republicans hold the Presidency and majorities in both the Senate and the House, and even though they are slim, it means they control the agenda and, if they can keep their party unified, they have the chance for change.

This momentum for change is being further enhanced by the President-elect’s choices for his cabinet. While these selections still have to be approved by the Senate, the nominees are absolutely focused on change. From what I can see, these changes won’t be the normal regulations and oversight but change at the very foundation of the government agencies.

So, what does 2025 hold for the healthcare of older Americans from this new administration? While some of these nominees have made radical statements, I think some common themes have bubbled to the surface. The size of our government seems to be at the top of their minds. They all seem to think that our government is bloated and can be reduced, and they have also said they want to improve its efficiency.

Trump has proposed a new Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), and chosen two outsiders, Vivek Ramaswamy and Elon Musk, to head it up. While the Republicans have historically been linked with reducing the sprawl and control of our government, this has definitely not been the case almost back to the beginning of this century. I remember in 2017 that then Speaker of the House, Paul Ryan, was running counter to then President Trump when he lobbied for a reducing the size and power of government. In what seems to be an about-face, Trump is now publicly focused on reducing the government. The important question for us is – where will he cut, and what effects will it have on seniors’ healthcare?

I’ve talked in earlier blogs that the way legislation is implemented is very important… the devil is always in the details. I think that the new administration is going to look long and hard at how the Inflation Reduction Act is being implemented. I think the Biden administration is also concerned about what Trump might do. There are rumors that the identification of the next 10 drugs that will be eligible to have their prices fixed by the government will be moved from their scheduled time next February, after Trump is sworn in, to early in January while President Biden is still in power. It’s these types of moves that tell me that there might be some relief in the future that gets us out of this ever-broadening encroachment of government price fixing scheme for prescription drugs. I do think that the $2,000 yearly cap on out-of-pocket costs for drugs will remain in place, it’s just too important to seniors for the new administration to make any changes.

This apparent influx of these champions of change will be a double-edged sword. It can be really good or really bad as far as its impact on healthcare for seniors. It means that we must all get involved and let our lawmakers know where we stand. There are 12 new Senators and 63 new members of the House that will be sworn into office in January. In my state of Utah, 33% of the lawmakers will be sworn into a new office. With the slim majorities in both the Senate and the House each vote will be important. This gives each of us a great opportunity to influence what happens in Washington. There could be sweeping changes to programs, even mainstays like Social Security and Medicare, proposed. We need to be vocal in voicing how these changes will impact us. If there is a lawmaker in your state who is new, tell her/him that you are an interested constituent. You vote and influence other voters, and you work to understand the issues and how they affect seniors. I can guarantee they will be interested in hearing what you have to say.

We at Seniors Speak Out will continue to keep you up-to-speed on the issues and proposals that will emerge from this new administration. The first week after the inauguration looks like it will be a whirlwind of activity, so stay tuned!

Best, Thair