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ELECTION
IMPACT

Local Perspectives on the
2016 Election’s Impact on
HEALTHCARE POLICY

By Mike W. Thomas

The election of Donald Trump in November promises to have a profound impact
on U.S. healthcare policy in the coming years.

President-elect Trump campaigned on a promise to repeal President Barack Obama’s signature healthcare law — The Affordable
Care Act (ACA) — which could leave millions of people without access to health insurance if the Act is not replaced with an ad-
equate alternative. Such a replacement for the ACA has been promised but what it will entail is not clear. The President-elect has
indicated that he would like to keep certain aspects of the healthcare law including the rule that insurers cannot turn people away
for pre-existing conditions and the rule that allows people to keep their adult children on their healthcare plans up to age 26.

President-elect Trump has selected Republican Congressman Tom Price of Georgia to be his Secretary of Health and Human
Services. Tom Price is an orthopedic surgeon who led the House Republicans’ efforts to repeal the ACA for the past eight years.
The American Medical Association issued a strong statement of support for Price by stating that his “service as a physician, state
legislator and member of the U.S. Congress provides a depth of experience to lead HHS.

“Dr. Price has been a leader in the development of health policies to advance patient choice and market-based solutions as well
as reduce excessive regulatory burdens that diminish time devoted to patient care and increase costs,” the AMA said in a state-
ment.

While the key parts may soon be in place for a major overhaul of healthcare policy, congressional Democrats do not plan to
give in easily. Democratic House and Senate leaders said they will block efforts to repeal the ACA in its entirety, along with other
proposals to rollback expansion of Medicaid and cut Social Security. While some aspects of the healthcare law can be rolled back
using the filibuster-proof budget reconciliation process, other key aspects could be blocked by filibusters.

In this issue of San Antonio Medicine we will hear from a number of local doctors, healthcare professionals and medical students
on what they expect to see in the coming months as the new political landscape unfolds. We will continue to revisit these issues
throughout the year and encourage members to submit their thoughts and comments for possible inclusion in future issues.