"No aspect of health care saw more volatility in 2025 than in the political arena. The tone was set in January when President Donald Trump returned to office and began reshaping federal health agencies with unprecedented speed. Within days, he issued a record flurry of executive orders targeting the Affordable Care Act, Medicaid waivers, Medicare Advantage oversight, prior-authorization rules, and federal nutrition standards."
"The nomination of RFK Jr. to lead HHS became a flashpoint. His reluctance to confront the measles outbreak in Texas, combined with mixed messaging on vaccine policy, has deepened public health concerns. Since then, senior scientists and leaders in federal health care agencies have resigned, with key programs becoming stalled and career staff reporting political interference in decisions that previously rested on data and expert consensus."
Political actions in 2025 rapidly reshaped federal health agencies through executive orders, leadership replacements, and the nomination of RFK Jr., creating disruption across HHS, NIH, CDC, and FDA. Career scientists and agency leaders resigned, key programs stalled, and career staff reported political interference in science-based decisions. A measles outbreak in Texas and mixed vaccine messaging heightened public health concerns. Health care costs rose sharply while protections that buffered patients from increases eroded. Insurers on the Affordable Care Act marketplace requested significant premium hikes, making coverage more fragile and increasing patient financial exposure. Routine medical care remained largely unchanged in quality but substantially more expensive for Americans.
Read at www.mercurynews.com
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