With a new Administration and a Republican-controlled Congress stepping into power, a wave of changes is sweeping across Washington. From immigration and military renewal to energy dominance and tax cuts, the agenda is ambitious. But what does this mean for health care policy, hospitals, and patient care?

In this episode, Joel White, President and CEO of Horizon Government Affairs, unpacks the evolving health policy landscape. Together, Chip and Joel explore how federal priorities, budgetary concerns, and legislative goals are shaping health care’s future under a new administration.

Key Topics Covered:

• What’s driving federal policymaking in the current landscape;
• The GOP agenda and health care priorities for the Administration including Make America Healthy Again and the Department of Government Efficiency;
• The art of the possible and the policies that stand a chance of crossing the finish line; and, 
• Budget reconciliation, funding challenges, and potential impacts on Medicare and Medicaid.

Guest Bio: 

Joel is the Founder and President of Horizon Government Affairs (HGA), a health care consultancy that represents two dozen clients and runs four coalitions comprised of 200 organizations dedicated to reforms that improve our health system. 

Since Horizon’s founding in 2007, his team has helped enact more than 50 laws and helped shape countless regulations governing all aspects of the U.S. health care system. 

Joel is also the President of the Council for Affordable Health Coverage, an HGA-managed coalition to improve affordability, increase competition in health care, and protect and strengthen employee health coverage. Recent campaigns include reforming the Inflation Reduction Act, promoting outcomes-based arrangements for gene therapies, and expanding small-group coverage. 

Previously, Joel spent twelve years on Capitol Hill including as Staff Director of the Ways and Means Health Subcommittee. While on the Hill he helped enact nine laws, including the 2002 Trade Act, which created health care tax credits for private coverage, the 2003 law that established the Medicare prescription drug benefit and Health Savings Accounts, the 2005 Deficit Reduction Act, and the 2006 Tax Reform and Health Care Act, which reformed Medicare payment policies. 

Joel is on the Boards of Directors of Samaritan Inns, Arlington Bridge Builders, the Schizophrenia and Psychosis Action Alliance, SafeNetRx, and Chaddock Behavioral Health. Joel holds a B.S. in Economics from the American University and is the co-author of the book, Facts and Figures on Government Finance.