As of the recording of this episode, control of the U.S. Senate and the U.S. House of Representatives has not yet been determined, which means that like many other issues the future of health care policy for the coming years remains unknown.

Could a change in the balance of power mean changes to existing programs? What will be the focus of Congress in the coming years regarding health care?

“At the end of the day, whether it's a Republican Congress, or a Democratic Congress or Senate or a governorship doesn't matter, because the patient issues of trying to get healthier, to be kept healthy, and to be able to access medicines and physicians and hospitals is the same. And both parties have a responsibility to patients to be able to get them better, quicker and faster,” says Dr. Robert Popovian.

Among the highlights in this episode:

1:04: In our next episode, the hosts will be taking questions from our audience: to participate, send your questions or audio clips to healthcarematters@ghlf.org

2:11: Oklahoma, Georgia, Illinois, and Washington have all passed accumulator or maximiser bans

3:23: One of the main health care issues that should remain a priority in 2023 is out-of-pocket spending for patients

4:00: Dr. Popovian explains how PBMs (Pharmacy Benefit Managers) along with insurers are pocketing rebates that should instead benefit patients

5:17: The importance of transparency in health care policies, especially when it comes to PBMs and money and rebate circulation between health care stakeholders

6:36: According to Dr. Popovian, one of the best ways to address transparency and pharmaceutical company pricing is, “to create an environment whereby [the] pharmaceutical industry has a stake also in the outcomes of these drugs… So instead of just setting a price and getting paid for it, they need to make sure that these drugs work in the patients.”

7:51: What can the next Congress do to maintain and ensure innovation in the medical fields while also ensuring patients are going to benefit better and more?

8:51: Dr. Popovian reviews which health care priorities should be the focus at the state level

11:31: Co-host Conner Mertens describes what patients are paying attention to in the new era of governorships at both the state level and the federal level

12:20: “Health care is bipartisan. Access to health care is a bipartisan issue,” says Dr. Popovian

13:31: Dr. Popovian shares some final thoughts

Contact Our Hosts

Dr. Robert Popovian, Chief Science Policy Officer at GHLF: rpopovian@ghlf.org

Conner Mertens, Patient Advocate and Community Outreach Manager at GHLF: cmertens@ghlf.org

We want to hear what you think. Send your comments, or a video or audio clip of yourself, to healthcarematters@ghlf.org

Listen to all episodes of Healthcare

As of the recording of this episode, control of the U.S. Senate and the U.S. House of Representatives has not yet been determined, which means that like many other issues the future of health care policy for the coming years remains unknown.
Could a change in the balance of power mean changes to existing programs? What will be the focus of Congress in the coming years regarding health care?
“At the end of the day, whether it's a Republican Congress, or a Democratic Congress or Senate or a governorship doesn't matter, because the patient issues of trying to get healthier, to be kept healthy, and to be able to access medicines and physicians and hospitals is the same. And both parties have a responsibility to patients to be able to get them better, quicker and faster,” says Dr. Robert Popovian.
Among the highlights in this episode:
1:04: In our next episode, the hosts will be taking questions from our audience: to participate, send your questions or audio clips to <a href="mailto:healthcarematters@ghlf.org">healthcarematters@ghlf.org</a>
2:11: Oklahoma, Georgia, Illinois, and Washington have all passed accumulator or maximiser bans
3:23: One of the main health care issues that should remain a priority in 2023 is out-of-pocket spending for patients
4:00: Dr. Popovian explains how PBMs (Pharmacy Benefit Managers) along with insurers are pocketing rebates that should instead benefit patients
5:17: The importance of transparency in health care policies, especially when it comes to PBMs and money and rebate circulation between health care stakeholders
6:36: According to Dr. Popovian, one of the best ways to address transparency and pharmaceutical company pricing is, “to create an environment whereby [the] pharmaceutical industry has a stake also in the outcomes of these drugs… So instead of just setting a price and getting paid for it, they need to make sure that these drugs work in the patients.”
7:51: What can the next Congress do to maintain and ensure innovation in the medical fields while also ensuring patients are going to benefit better and more?
8:51: Dr. Popovian reviews which health care priorities should be the focus at the state level
11:31: Co-host Conner Mertens describes what patients are paying attention to in the new era of governorships at both the state level and the federal level
12:20: “Health care is bipartisan. Access to health care is a bipartisan issue,” says Dr. Popovian
13:31: Dr. Popovian shares some final thoughts
Contact Our Hosts
Dr. Robert Popovian, Chief Science Policy Officer at GHLF: <a href="mailto:rpopovian@ghlf.org">rpopovian@ghlf.org</a>
Conner Mertens, Patient Advocate and Community Outreach Manager at GHLF: <a href="mailto:cmertens@ghlf.org">cmertens@ghlf.org</a>
We want to hear what you think. Send your comments, or a video or audio clip of yourself, to <a href="mailto:healthcarematters@ghlf.org">healthcarematters@ghlf.org</a>
Listen to all episodes of Healthcare

Welcome to Healthcare Matters! In this podcast, we talk about 'matters' in healthcare and why it matters to you! 

Our host Ben Blanc will speak with our talented Chief Science Officer Robert Popovian. And together, we will take on some pretty complex topics and distil them, so everyone can understand what is happening in the world of healthcare. 

The show is brought to you by the Global Healthy Living Foundation. 

www.ghlf.org

Welcome to Healthcare Matters! In this podcast, we talk about 'matters' in healthcare and why it matters to you! 
Our host Ben Blanc will speak with our talented Chief Science Officer Robert Popovian. And together, we will take on some pretty complex topics and distil them, so everyone can understand what is happening in the world of healthcare. 
The show is brought to you by the Global Healthy Living Foundation. 
www.ghlf.org

Healthcare Matters

A podcast that pulls back the curtain to help you make sense of complex healthcare economics and policy issues. Our goal is to help simplify the complexities in healthcare economics and policy issues for you.

The podcast is part of the Global Healthy Living Foundation Podcast Network and hosted by Dr. Robert Popovian, Chief Science Policy Officer at GHLF and Ben Blanc, Associate Director, Digital Production and Engagement at GHLF.

A podcast that pulls back the curtain to help you make sense of complex healthcare economics and policy issues. Our goal is to help simplify the complexities in healthcare economics and policy issues for you.
The podcast is part of the Global Healthy Living Foundation Podcast Network and hosted by Dr. Robert Popovian, Chief Science Policy Officer at GHLF and Ben Blanc, Associate Director, Digital Production and Engagement at GHLF.