Midterm Debrief: What the New Congress Means for Health Policy

Democrats had decisive and historic victories in the Midterm elections, winning both the House and Senate. As of Nov. 10, the House will be made up of 254 Democrats and 165 Republicans while the Senate will be 54 Democrats and 44 Republicans. With several races yet to be called, the Democrats have flipped at least 43 House seats and 7 Senate seats from Republican to Democratic control.

What does this mean for health policy in the 120th Congress? Democrats have proposed

• Vigorous oversight of the Administration and corporate bad actors,
• Restoring the Affordable Care Act enhanced subsidies,
• Undoing cuts to federal Medicaid spending,
• Reverse Medicaid work requirements, and
• Ending the use of AI in some Medicare coverage determinations.

However, Democrats do not have a filibuster proof majority in the Senate and President Trump has already indicated a willingness to veto legislation. So, any major legislation would require buy-in from Republicans, which may limit some Democratic policy goals. Additionally, this new class of Democrats will be a very diverse group, with a number of moderate Democrats who won in Southern and Midwestern states as well as a handful of Democratic Socialists; unifying this broad spectrum of Democrats may be a challenge for party leaders.

We will continue to advocate for counselors in the 120th Congress and look forward to new opportunities for collaboration and engagement. In the next few months, we will draft our new legislative agenda and one pager based on the new congressional landscape and informed by your feedback in our advocacy survey. We’re honored to continue elevating your voice and advancing the counseling profession.

If you have any questions or would like to become more involved in ACA’s advocacy efforts, please contact us at advocacy@counseling.org.