Midterm Elections 2022: Health Care Stakes and What Policymakers, Lobbyists, and Experts Predict

The 2022 midterm elections carry sweeping implications for American health care, regardless of which party controls Congress. STAT consulted more than two dozen policymakers, lobbyists, and health policy experts to map out the potential consequences. Key issues include the future of the Affordable Care Act, drug pricing reforms, abortion access after the Supreme Court's Dobbs decision, pandemic preparedness, and Medicare solvency. Experts note that a Republican-led House could push for spending cuts and oversight hearings, while a Democratic hold on the Senate would likely preserve recent legislative gains like the Inflation Reduction Act's insulin copay cap. The outcome in key states could also determine whether Medicaid expansion continues and how states regulate reproductive health. With health care a top voter concern, the election results will shape everything from insurance coverage to public health funding for years. The next Congress will face immediate deadlines on telehealth flexibilities and pandemic-era policies, making the stakes even higher.