
Strengthening Health and Ending the Pandemic
CAP works to strengthen public health systems, respond to COVID-19 in equitable and sustainable ways, and improve health care coverage, access and affordability.

What We're Working On
What We're Doing
Increasing vaccination rates to end the pandemic
Vaccination is key to ending the COVID-19 pandemic and avoiding preventable illness, death, and economic loss. We promote equitable vaccine policy and leveraging governmental and employers’ power to promote vaccination and pandemic recovery.
Strengthening public health infrastructure
The COVID-19 pandemic has further exposed inequities and existing weaknesses in the United States’ public health infrastructure. We’re focused on improving health equity by investing in public health, addressing social and economic factors that affect health, and preparing for future health threats.
Improving access to affordable health coverage
We’re dedicated to bolstering affordable, high-quality health coverage options. By building on the Affordable Care Act, closing the Medicaid coverage gap, and innovating progressive solutions, we envision a world in which everyone can access care.
Lowering health care prices and consumer costs
Health care affordability is a top consumer concern, and prices for health care and prescription drugs are inaccessibly high for many. One of our key priorities is improving America’s health by lowering costs to ensure all people can afford to manage their health.
By the Numbers
1.9
Life expectancy fell by 1.9 years in the pandemic—8.5 times more than peer countries.
Woolf, “Effect of the covid-19 pandemic in 2020 on life expectancy across populations” (2021).
2x
The U.S. spends 2 times more as peer countries on health, with 8% lower life expectancy.
CAP, “The Declining Health of Americans” (2021).
7,000
Closing the Medicaid coverage gap would save 7,000 lives per year.
CAP, “Closing the Medicaid Coverage Gap Would Save 7,000 Lives Each Year” (2021).
2.8x
COVID hospitalized Black and Hispanic people at a rate 2.8 times higher than white people.
CDC, “Risk for COVID-19 Infection, Hospitalization, and Death by Race/Ethnicity” (2021).
Recent Work


Tax Breaks for Retirement Savings Do Not Help the Workers Who Need Them Most

Viewpoint 1: The infant formula crisis and our inequitable food system

Prioritizing Racial Equity in Student Mental Health Spending
Latest

2022 State Abortion Bans Are a Patchwork of Increasingly Extreme Laws
As the country awaits the Supreme Court’s final decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, this column highlights the myriad ways in which opponents of abortion are pursuing unprecedented incursions on that fundamental constitutional right.

Fact Sheet: How Investing in Public Health Will Strengthen America’s Health
Significant and sustained investments in public health would improve societal health, advance equity, and foster economic and climate resiliency.

How Investing in Public Health Will Strengthen America’s Health
Investments in public health not only improve the health of society but also advance equity and foster economic and climate resiliency.

5 Key Facts About Medication Abortion
Expanding access to safe abortion in whatever ways possible is more critical than ever—and a central way of doing so is to make medication abortion more easily accessible.

The Overwhelming Restrictions on U.S. Abortion Rights and Access
Since Roe v. Wade, extremist politicians have enacted more than 1,300 restrictions to take away abortion rights and access.

State Policies To Address Prescription Drug Affordability Across the Supply Chain
To manage rising prescription drug prices, states should explore comprehensive policy options that address cost drivers across the drug supply chain.

The Title 42 Expulsion Policy Does Nothing To Prevent the Spread of COVID-19
Issued as a public health measure, there is no statistical evidence that border expulsions under Title 42 result in a lower COVID-19 case rate in the United States.

COUNTERPOINT: Masks remain an essential tool to protect against COVID
Mia Ives-Rublee argues that masks remain a critical preventive measure to avoid future COVID-19 surges and protect those at higher risk of severe illness.

As the US reaches 1 million COVID-19 deaths, Congress still has work ahead
Mia Ives-Rublee writes about the congressional action that is still needed to address COVID-19.

Fact Sheet: Top 10 Ways To Improve Health and Health Equity
To improve health and well-being, policymakers must act to address inequities, infrastructure, and social determinants of health that contribute to poor health.