Comparing Health Care Policies: Kamala Harris vs. Donald Trump

Where Harris and Trump Stand On Health Care

Topic: Politics

by MPeriod

Posted 1 month ago

• Harris has been a staunch advocate for abortion rights throughout her career, making reproductive rights a central part of her campaign. As Vice President, she even visited a Planned Parenthood clinic and launched a nationwide "Fight for Reproductive Freedoms" tour.
• She has pledged to sign a law codifying the right to abortion nationwide if Congress passes such legislation, restoring the protections offered by Roe v. Wade.
• Harris has supported legislative actions to protect abortion access, including for travel, privacy, and emergencies, and continues to emphasize the importance of bodily autonomy and reproductive rights in her platform.

• Trump has referred to himself as “the most pro-life president” in American history, having appointed three justices to the Supreme Court who helped overturn Roe v. Wade.
• While Trump previously supported a 15-week national abortion ban, he has since shifted to a states’ rights approach, leaving the decision to individual states.
• His administration implemented several policies restricting access to abortion, including blocking federal funding for clinics that provide abortion services.

• Harris has consistently supported the Affordable Care Act (ACA), defending its constitutionality as California’s Attorney General and working to expand coverage through the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA).
• She has advocated for extending ACA subsidies beyond 2025 and expanding Medicaid in the 10 states that haven’t yet adopted the ACA Medicaid expansion.
• While Harris once supported Medicare for All, she has since stepped back from that position, focusing instead on strengthening the ACA and expanding coverage through federal programs.

• Trump’s efforts to repeal and replace the ACA were unsuccessful during his presidency, though his administration did eliminate the individual mandate penalty.
• He continues to call for the ACA to be repealed or modified to be “cheaper and better,” though no specific alternative has been outlined in his 2024 campaign.
• Trump has also proposed restructuring Medicaid through block grants or per capita caps, which would significantly reduce federal funding for the program.

• Harris supports allowing the government to negotiate prescription drug prices, which was introduced under the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA). She also favors expanding these cost protections to non-Medicare beneficiaries.
• Under the Biden-Harris administration, insulin prices were capped at $35 for Medicare beneficiaries, and Harris aims to expand this to all Americans.
• She has also called for increased competition in the pharmaceutical industry, targeting practices that block generics from entering the market.

• As president, Trump proposed international reference pricing to align Medicare drug prices with those in other developed countries, though this was never implemented.
• Trump signed the No Surprises Act, protecting patients from unexpected medical bills, including out-of-network charges, and issued executive orders allowing drug importation from Canada.
• His 2024 campaign indicates plans to lower prescription drug costs through transparency and competition, but details remain limited.

• As a leading advocate for maternal health, Harris co-sponsored the “Momnibus” package, aimed at addressing maternal mortality and racial disparities in care.
• Harris has prioritized expanding Medicaid’s postpartum coverage to 12 months and increasing access to behavioral health services for new mothers.
• The Biden-Harris administration has also developed the Blueprint for Addressing the Maternal Health Crisis, focusing on maternal mental health, workforce expansion, and health equity.

• Trump signed the Preventing Maternal Death Act, which funded maternal mortality review committees to investigate causes and solutions for the U.S.’s high maternal mortality rate.
• Trump’s broader health care policies, including attempts to roll back the ACA, could have negatively impacted maternal health, as the ACA covers maternity care as an essential benefit.

• The Biden-Harris administration placed a strong emphasis on following public health guidance, with initiatives to improve access to vaccines and testing, and to bolster the public health workforce.
• The administration established the Office of Pandemic Preparedness and Response Policy, signaling their commitment to long-term pandemic readiness.
• Harris publicly supported mask-wearing, vaccines, and boosters, aiming to restore public trust in health institutions.

• Trump is credited with overseeing Operation Warp Speed, which accelerated the development of COVID-19 vaccines.
• However, his administration’s response to the pandemic was often criticized for downplaying the severity of the virus, inconsistent messaging, and delegating responsibility to states.
• Trump has promised to eliminate any remaining COVID mandates if re-elected and has voiced skepticism over pandemic restrictions, including mask mandates and vaccine requirements.