Future Outlook
Given how fragmented health policy is in both Congress and the executive branch , it should not be a surprise that major changes are difficult and rare .
Add to that an electorate divided over whether the federal government should be more involved or less involved in the health sector , and huge lobbying clout from various interest groups whose members make a lot of money from the current operation of the system , and you have a prescription for inertia .
One potential wildcard — in June of 2024 , the Supreme Court overturned a 40-year-old precedent , known as “ Chevron deference ,” that gave the benefit of the doubt in interpreting ambiguous laws passed by Congress to federal agencies rather than judges . Overturning Chevron will likely make it easier for outsiders to
challenge federal agency actions , but it will be some time before the full ramifications become clear .
Another problem is that when a new health policy can dodge the minefield of obstacles to become law , it almost by definition represents a compromise that may help it win enough votes for passage , but is more likely to complicate an already byzantine system further .
Unless the health system completely breaks down , it seems unlikely that federal policymakers will be able to move the needle very far in either a conservative or a liberal direction .
About KFF Health News
KFF Health News is a national newsroom that produces in-depth journalism about health issues and is one of the core operating programs at KFF — the independent source for health policy research , polling , and journalism .
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NEWS AND TRIBUNE HEALTHCARE GUIDE 2025
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