Med Student Wonks

Med Student Wonks
The shifting winds of power...

As health care activists, we have taken to a bipartisan approach to progressive health policy because of the Republican trifecta of the House, Senate, and White House. In many ways, the HPAC activists have been frustrated by the lack of real reform, but motivated and inspired by the ideas of making change immediately wherever it's possible. As the Congress swings to the left, we must wonder the real fate of bipartisan collaboration. The Republican leadership has made it clear with the nomination of John Bolton and Eric Keroack made it clear that for the remaining months of their term, bipartisanship is not the primary goal. Will the collaboration alluded to by new Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi materialize? Will the White House sign bills in good faith or will veto power mark most of the bills that advance our nation's health for the next two years?

Where should our policy go from here? Is it time to take up the progressive policies we have at best tried to implement only incrementally? Will the will for reform in our health care system finally prevail or are we still waiting for the system to crash and burn before we are motivated to act?

I hope that the bipartisanship given so much lip service in so little time materializes in gains to the US public health and that we continue to engage in dialogue and a spirit of comraderie in the next two years.

Here's hoping,
Julia Skapik
Malpractice and Health Quality Coordinator