The Unintended Consequences of ‘Make America Healthy Again’ Initiative

Last year, on the same date as today, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. stepped back from his presidential race to unite with Donald Trump, revealing a scheme entitled ‘Make America Healthy Again.’ Regrettably, the venture has led to the most substantial measles outbreak seen in modern times, a crippling blow to Medicaid, substantial reduction in cancer and mRNA vaccination research funds, and severe understaffing issues in VA hospitals alongside countless other negative outcomes, all of which are spelling disaster for many.

Recently, a report was published by a nonprofit healthcare advocacy body, Protect Our Care’s Hospital Crisis Watch initiative. The report detailed the devastating impacts the cuts to Medicaid will have on the American population nationwide. Over 330 hospitals, due to these policies, are at risk of closure or cuts in the services offered, brought on by a budget deficit exceeding $400 billion, thus making medical assistance less accessible for many in the country.

For most hospitals, Medicaid forms an integral part of their operational funds. About one fifth of the total hospital expenditures and, likewise, patient admissions and days spent in hospitals across almost all states are covered by Medicaid. The healthcare industry, that includes hospitals, is the country’s sixth largest employer.

However, the new policies implemented by the Republicans threaten this industry, putting at risk approximately 7 million jobs filled by public servants such as doctors, nurses and social workers. All this in an attempt to provide tax reliefs to the nation’s wealthiest. The purposed cuts to Medicaid by the GOP will, it is projected, result in the loss of jobs for close to half a million healthcare workers.

Moreover, it is saddening to note that due to the intolerant abortion laws in these regions, many hospitals are losing their maternity care. Additionally, the planned parenthood clinics, which are vital for many Medicaid patients for gynaecological care and breast examinations, are on the verge of closure.

There is also the grim reality that around 16 million individuals are on the brink of losing their health coverage due to these stringent regulations. Recent statistics revealed in a report suggest premium increases for 44 million Americans. The GOP’s budget bill logged history’s most substantial healthcare cuts, with over $1 trillion cut from Medicaid and the Affordable Care Act in the pursuit to finance tax reliefs for billionaires and major corporations.

Insurance providers have already hinted their intent to increase premiums for approximately 24 million Americans, on average by 15 percent. Concurrently, Republicans are taking away the tax credits of 20 million people, which would force them to pay an average of 75 percent more for their coverage.

This surge in cost will inevitably lead to a significant number of hard-working families losing access to life-saving coverage. Additionally, millions more will encounter challenges managing with the already high cost of living. Interestingly, there is also no official interpretation of the term ‘able-bodied,’ thereby exposing numerous individuals with chronic or severe illnesses to potential loss of their health coverage.

Healthcare professionals indicate that individuals with debilitating chronic pain or severe autoimmune diseases may seem ‘able-bodied’ however, these individuals face significant challenges in qualifying for disability coverage. Federal health workers and home health workers are also facing a tough time, primarily due to policy changes on union recognition.

Recently, the Health and Human Services announced plans to stop acknowledging unions. This move will consequently strip thousands of employees of their collective bargaining rights. Surprisingly, the ‘Make America Healthy Again’ initiative appears to be resulting in healthcare becoming less accessible, more costly, and causing significant job loss within the healthcare sector.

There is even speculation of potential withdrawal of COVID vaccines from the market. In retrospect, the ‘Make America Healthy Again’ initiative started with an aspiration of improving public health, but seems to have fallen significantly short of its goal.

These stark realities reflect a grim scenario for those depending on healthcare services in the country. The policies under ‘Make America Healthy Again’ have shown, thus far, to potentially be detrimental to the welfare of the citizens they were meant to serve.

In revealing these shocking shortcomings, it is also clear that there are many consequences yet to be fully understood, with the potential to further endanger public health and wellbeing. The question remains: what will be the lasting effects of these measures, and more importantly, what will it take to rescue and restore America’s healthcare system to a state of true wellbeing?