As speculation mounts about Kamala Harris’s future role, policy experts and former advisers anticipate significant shifts in the U.S. health care landscape under her leadership. From reproductive rights to health care reform, Harris is expected to champion changes that could reshape the system profoundly.
Focus on Reproductive Rights
A central theme in Harris’s potential presidency would likely be the protection and expansion of reproductive rights. Known for her robust defense of abortion access, Harris is anticipated to aggressively challenge opposition from the Republican Party, leveraging her strong stance on this issue to gain support.
Drew Altman, President and CEO of KFF, emphasizes Harris’s commitment to reproductive rights. “She will attack them repeatedly and mercilessly on reproductive rights,” Altman asserts. “It’s been a winning card for her so far, and I would expect to see her dial that up tremendously.”
Health Care Policy: Building on the Obama-Biden Legacy
Harris’s approach to health care is expected to build on the Obama-Biden legacy while introducing new reforms. According to Andy Slavitt, a former health care official in the Obama and Biden administrations, Harris has a clear advantage in addressing health care issues. “It’s awkward for President Biden to talk about it,” Slavitt notes. “But I think she knows how to talk about it in ways that people relate to.”
As vice president, Harris has been a key supporter of Biden’s health care agenda. However, if she becomes the Democratic presidential nominee, she will have the opportunity to articulate her own vision. Sabrina Corlette, a health policy expert at Georgetown University, anticipates that Harris will work to expand coverage and address rising costs. “We can expect her to try to build on the Biden legacy of expanding coverage,” Corlette says.
Potential Reforms and Challenges
Harris is likely to focus on several areas:
- Affordable Care Act (ACA) Protections: Protecting and extending the ACA’s provisions, including enhanced subsidies set to expire in 2025.
- Medicaid Expansion: Pushing for Medicaid coverage expansion in the 10 states that have not yet adopted it.
- Medicare Enhancements: Continuing efforts to expand Medicare to include dental, vision, and hearing benefits for seniors.
Despite her support for expanding Medicare, Harris has also shown more liberal instincts compared to Biden, potentially pursuing more progressive reforms. During her 2020 presidential campaign, Harris supported the Medicare for All Act of 2019, which proposed universal Medicare coverage but faced resistance from moderates. She later proposed a health care bill that preserved private coverage through Medicare Advantage.
Addressing Drug Pricing
Harris will also likely focus on controlling drug prices. The government is negotiating new prices for the ten most costly drugs under Medicare, including medications for heart disease and diabetes. These new prices are expected to be announced by September and take effect in 2026.
Political Strategy and GOP Opposition
Harris is expected to use her platform to defend Medicare and Medicaid from GOP proposals that suggest partial privatization or cuts to these essential programs. Altman predicts that Harris will highlight the differences between her stance and GOP proposals, a strategy Democrats have used effectively against Republicans.
As discussions around the GOP’s Project 2025 continue, Harris’s approach to health care reform will be a critical factor in her presidential bid and subsequent policy implementation.
