As we transition into a new administration, our hosts reflect on President Biden’s legacy in healthcare policy, focusing on three major areas that impacted patients: the COVID-19 response, the opioid crisis, and the Inflation Reduction Act. They discuss key achievements such as vaccine rollouts, reduced overdose deaths, and efforts to lower prescription drug costs, while also examining ongoing challenges and concerns. With the health policy landscape set to shift in 2025, this episode breaks down what patients need to know and how to stay engaged in advocacy for better care.

Among the highlights in this episode:

00:40: Steven Newmark, Chief of Policy at GHLF, outlines three key areas where the Biden administration made a significant impact in health care: COVID-19 response, the opioid crisis, and the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA)

01:28: Steven highlights the Biden administration’s mass vaccination campaign, which saved an estimated 3.2 million American lives, according to the Commonwealth Fund

01:49: Zoe Rothblatt, Director of Community Outreach at GHLF, gives credit to Operation Warp Speed under Trump for fast-tracking vaccine development but emphasizes that the bulk of vaccinations happened under Biden

02:43: Zoe reflects on how the pandemic's threat level has changed, largely due to vaccines and continued booster developments

02:58: Steven shifts the discussion to the opioid crisis, explaining that overdose deaths were rising at 31% per year when Biden took office

03:35: Steven discusses how the administration's overdose prevention efforts led to a 14.5% decrease in overdose deaths — the largest reduction in U.S. history

04:17: Zoe explains how removing barriers to Naloxone access reduces response time during an overdose emergency

04:50: Steven discusses how Biden removed an outdated waiver requirement that expanded opioid treatment access by 15 times

06:11: Steven shifts focus to the IRA, explaining that it was one of Biden’s most significant health care policies

06:27: Zoe highlights a major win: capping Medicare Part D out-of-pocket prescription costs at $2,000 per year, down from $3,500

07:29: Steven explains why this is life-changing for seniors and people with disabilities, as many rely on multiple expensive medications

08:48: Zoe discusses the $35 monthly cap on insulin prices for Medicare patients, ensuring those with diabetes have affordable access to life-saving medication

09:11: Steven explains the potential downside of IRA’s Medicare drug price negotiations, which could reduce incentives for drug companies to develop new treatments

10:32: Zoe reminds listeners that with the upcoming presidential transition, health policies could change significantly, and GHLF will continue advocating for patient needs

11:01: Steven encourages listeners to join GHLF’s 50-State Network, stay informed, and share their stories to help shape health policies.

Join GHLF’s 50 State Network, share your story, and get involved in advocacy to make a difference, email us at advocacy@ghlf.org

Contact Our Hosts

Steven Newmark, Chief of Policy at GHLF: snewmark@ghlf.org

Zoe Rothblatt, Director of Community Outreach at GHLF: zrothblatt@ghlf.org

A podcast episode produced by Ben Blanc, Director, Digital Production and Engagement at GHLF.

We want to hear what you think. Send your comments in the form of an email, video, or audio clip of yourself to podcasts@ghlf.org

Catch up on all our episodes on our website or on your favorite podcast channel.

As we transition into a new administration, our hosts reflect on President Biden&rsquo;s legacy in healthcare policy, focusing on three major areas that impacted patients: the COVID-19 response, the opioid crisis, and the Inflation Reduction Act. They discuss key achievements such as vaccine rollouts, reduced overdose deaths, and efforts to lower prescription drug costs, while also examining ongoing challenges and concerns. With the health policy landscape set to shift in 2025, this episode breaks down what patients need to know and how to stay engaged in advocacy for better care.
Among the highlights in this episode:
00:40: Steven Newmark, Chief of Policy at GHLF, outlines three key areas where the Biden administration made a significant impact in health care: COVID-19 response, the opioid crisis, and the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA)
01:28: Steven highlights the Biden administration&rsquo;s mass vaccination campaign, which saved an estimated 3.2 million American lives, according to the Commonwealth Fund
01:49: Zoe Rothblatt, Director of Community Outreach at GHLF, gives credit to Operation Warp Speed under Trump for fast-tracking vaccine development but emphasizes that the bulk of vaccinations happened under Biden
02:43: Zoe reflects on how the pandemic's threat level has changed, largely due to vaccines and continued booster developments
02:58: Steven shifts the discussion to the opioid crisis, explaining that overdose deaths were rising at 31% per year when Biden took office
03:35: Steven discusses how the administration's overdose prevention efforts led to a 14.5% decrease in overdose deaths &mdash; the largest reduction in U.S. history
04:17: Zoe explains how removing barriers to Naloxone access reduces response time during an overdose emergency
04:50: Steven discusses how Biden removed an outdated waiver requirement that expanded opioid treatment access by 15 times
06:11: Steven shifts focus to the IRA, explaining that it was one of Biden&rsquo;s most significant health care policies
06:27: Zoe highlights a major win: capping Medicare Part D out-of-pocket prescription costs at $2,000 per year, down from $3,500
07:29: Steven explains why this is life-changing for seniors and people with disabilities, as many rely on multiple expensive medications
08:48: Zoe discusses the $35 monthly cap on insulin prices for Medicare patients, ensuring those with diabetes have affordable access to life-saving medication
09:11: Steven explains the potential downside of IRA&rsquo;s Medicare drug price negotiations, which could reduce incentives for drug companies to develop new treatments
10:32: Zoe reminds listeners that with the upcoming presidential transition, health policies could change significantly, and GHLF will continue advocating for patient needs
11:01: Steven encourages listeners to join GHLF&rsquo;s 50-State Network, stay informed, and share their stories to help shape health policies.
Join GHLF&rsquo;s 50 State Network, share your story, and get involved in advocacy to make a difference, email us at <a href="mailto:advocacy@ghlf.org">advocacy@ghlf.org</a>
Contact Our Hosts
Steven Newmark, Chief of Policy at GHLF: <a href="mailto:snewmark@ghlf.org">snewmark@ghlf.org</a>
Zoe Rothblatt, Director of Community Outreach at GHLF: <a href="mailto:zrothblatt@ghlf.org">zrothblatt@ghlf.org</a>
A podcast episode produced by Ben Blanc, Director, Digital Production and Engagement at GHLF.
We want to hear what you think. Send your comments in the form of an email, video, or audio clip of yourself to <a href="mailto:podcasts@ghlf.org">podcasts@ghlf.org</a>
Catch up on all our episodes on our website or on your favorite podcast channel.

A podcast that breaks down major health news of the week to help you make sense of it all. Our goal is to help you understand what’s happening in the healthcare world to help you make informed decisions to live your best life.

A podcast that breaks down major health news of the week to help you make sense of it all. Our goal is to help you understand what&rsquo;s happening in the healthcare world to help you make informed decisions to live your best life.

The Health Advocates

A podcast that breaks down major health news of the week to help you make sense of it all. Our goal is to help you understand what’s happening in the healthcare world to help you make informed decisions to live your best life. The podcast is part of the Global Healthy Living Foundation Podcast Network and hosted by Steven Newmark, Chief of Policy at GHLF, and Zoe Rothblatt, Director of Community Outreach at GHLF.

A podcast that breaks down major health news of the week to help you make sense of it all. Our goal is to help you understand what’s happening in the healthcare world to help you make informed decisions to live your best life. The podcast is part of the Global Healthy Living Foundation Podcast Network and hosted by Steven Newmark, Chief of Policy at GHLF, and Zoe Rothblatt, Director of Community Outreach at GHLF.