Healthcare Under Strain Brief

Policymakers across parties agree the U.S. healthcare system is under mounting strain. This brief builds on insights from our report Systems Under Strain, taking a deeper look at how both Democratic and Republican policymakers understand the challenges facing the U.S. healthcare system. Across our discussions with policymakers, they increasingly warned that the U.S. healthcare system was under growing strain. In their view, rising costs, structural inefficiencies, and persistent coverage gaps were pushing the system toward an unsustainable path. Their key areas of concern include healthcare costs, insurance barriers, drug pricing and pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs), and disparities in access and Medicaid funding. While policy approaches may differ, the underlying diagnosis is notably aligned across party lines