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Strengthening Health

We work to strengthen public health systems and improve health care coverage, access, and affordability.

A pop-up COVID-19 vaccination clinic is seen in California. (Getty/Al Seib/Los Angeles Times)
What We're Working On

What We're Doing

Strengthening public health systems

The COVID-19 pandemic and increasing intensity of extreme weather conditions and natural disasters have exposed the many inequities and weaknesses in the United States’ public health infrastructure. We focus on improving health equity by investing in public health; addressing the social, economic, and environmental factors that affect health; and preparing for and mitigating future health threats.

Improving access to affordable health coverage

We’re dedicated to bolstering access to affordable, high-quality health coverage options. By building on the Affordable Care Act, closing the Medicaid coverage gap, strengthening the Medicare program, and innovating other progressive health care solutions, we envision a world in which everyone can access high-value care.

Lowering health care prices and consumer costs

Health care affordability is a top consumer concern, and out-of-pocket costs for health care and prescription drugs are inaccessibly high for many. One of our key priorities is improving America’s health by protecting consumers and lowering costs to ensure that all people can afford to manage their health. We also work to combat the upstream drivers of high health care costs and prices, including excessive levels of consolidation and anticompetitive health care practices.

 

Increasing vaccination rates to prevent death and disease

Vaccination is key to avoiding preventable illness, death, and economic loss. We promote policies to ensure a robust vaccine supply, to provide people with no-cost access to vaccines, and to combat vaccine misinformation and disinformation.

By the Numbers

41%

About 4 in 10 adults report having debt due to medical or dental bills.

KFF, “Americans’ Challenges with Health Care Costs” (2024).

Source

$1B each summer

The health care costs from hospital admissions and emergency department visits due to extreme heat days.

CAP, “The Health Care Costs of Extreme Heat” (2023).

The Health Care Costs of Extreme Heat

$1.3T

Without reform, Medicare is at risk of overpaying Medicare Advantage plans between $1.3 trillion and $2 trillion over the next decade.

CAP, “Ending Overpayment in Medicare Advantage” (2024).

A man reads literature on Medicare at an event sponsored by MetroPlus in New York City.
Ending Overpayment in Medicare Advantage

1 in 3

The proportion of community health center sites that are located in areas of high relative climate vulnerability.

CAP, “Climate-Resilient Health Care Promotes Public Health, Equity, and Climate Justice” (2024).

Climate-Resilient Health Care Promotes Public Health, Equity, and Climate Justice

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Open Enrollment, Closed Doors Article
Capitol building reflected in a red ambulance

Open Enrollment, Closed Doors

As Affordable Care Act marketplace open enrollment for 2026 begins on November 1, Republican health policies are reducing access to affordable and comprehensive coverage for low-income Americans, young adults, and the self-employed.

Natasha Murphy

Growing Market Power Among Catholic Hospitals Restrains Access to Reproductive Health Care Report
A hospital bed sits in the birthing room of a catholic hospital.

Growing Market Power Among Catholic Hospitals Restrains Access to Reproductive Health Care

Stronger antitrust enforcement is necessary to prevent reduced access to reproductive health care, including abortion, birth control, and fertility treatments, while safeguarding market competition.

Bailey Sanders, Barak Richman, Kierra B. Jones, 2 More Andrea Ducas, Samuel Doernberg

What the Trump Administration, RFK Jr., and the MAHA Report Got Wrong About Improving Children’s Health Article
A health care provider vaccinates a toddler in the leg as the toddler and his father look on.

What the Trump Administration, RFK Jr., and the MAHA Report Got Wrong About Improving Children’s Health

The Make America Healthy Again Commission’s strategy report underscores the importance of childhood nutrition but casts doubt on proven health strategies; fails to acknowledge the Trump administration’s harm to children’s health; and distracts from effective strategies to prevent chronic diseases such as diabetes and obesity and to ensure access to vaccines, food security, and clean air and water.

Jill Rosenthal, Steven Woolf

On Its 60th Anniversary, Medicaid Is Under Attack Article
Demonstrators gather in protest of Medicaid cuts outside of the U.S. Capitol.

On Its 60th Anniversary, Medicaid Is Under Attack

Historic program cuts enacted by congressional Republicans and the Trump administration threaten the health and financial security of millions of Americans.

Andrea Ducas

Plans to test prior authorization in traditional Medicare are deeply troubling In the News

Plans to test prior authorization in traditional Medicare are deeply troubling

In an op-ed published by STAT, Don Berwick and Andrea Ducas discuss a new program from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services called “WISeR” and how it would result in countless eligible seniors being denied coverage.

STAT

Donald Berwick, Andrea Ducas

About Extreme Heat, We Need to Prioritize Children In the News

About Extreme Heat, We Need to Prioritize Children

In an op-ed published by InsideSources, Hailey Gibbs highlights proven strategies that communities and policymakers can adopt to better mitigate the deadly effects of climate change for young children and infants.

InsideSources

Hailey Gibbs

$1 Trillion in Medicaid Cuts—$1 Trillion in Tax Giveaways for the Richest 1 Percent: The One Big ‘Beautiful’ Bill’s Budget Math Article
A view of the U.S. Capitol during the procedural vote on the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, Washington, D.C., July 3, 2025.

$1 Trillion in Medicaid Cuts—$1 Trillion in Tax Giveaways for the Richest 1 Percent: The One Big ‘Beautiful’ Bill’s Budget Math

The congressional Republican bill will cause millions of low-income Americans to lose Medicaid coverage in order to fund tax giveaways for the top 1 percent of households.

Micah Johnson, Andrea Ducas

You Thought Medicare Was Safe? Think Again. In the News

You Thought Medicare Was Safe? Think Again.

In an op-ed published by The Contrarian, Donald Berwick explains how congressional Republicans’ budget reconciliation bill threatens to cut more than $535 billion from Medicaid over the next nine years.

The Contrarian

Donald Berwick

How To Make America Sick Article
A patient waits for radiation treatment.

How To Make America Sick

The Trump administration’s plan to “Make America Healthy Again” will make Americans’ health worse.

Donald Berwick

Trump pledged not to cut Medicare — but his budget bill does just that In the News

Trump pledged not to cut Medicare — but his budget bill does just that

In an op-ed published by MarketWatch, Andrea Ducas explains how President Donald Trump’s budget proposal is breaking his promise not to cut Medicare—with devastating consequences.

MarketWatch

Andrea Ducas

The One Big Beautiful Bill Act Would Ravage Regions Won by Donald Trump While Giving Tax Breaks to the Rich Article
The U.S. Capitol is seen at sunset.

The One Big Beautiful Bill Act Would Ravage Regions Won by Donald Trump While Giving Tax Breaks to the Rich

Cuts to Medicaid, SNAP, and clean energy tax credits would devastate people in communities that voted for President Donald Trump.

Kierra B. Jones, Andrea Ducas, Kyle Ross, 6 More Lily Roberts, Lucero Marquez, Jamie Friedman, Colin Seeberger, Kennedy Andara, Andrés Argüello

House Republicans’ Big, ‘Beautiful’ Bill Would Make Health Care More Expensive for Americans With Medicare and Other Insurance Article
The sun sets behind the U.S. Capitol building.

House Republicans’ Big, ‘Beautiful’ Bill Would Make Health Care More Expensive for Americans With Medicare and Other Insurance

A new Center for American Progress analysis shows how House Republican health care cuts would cost many families with Medicaid, Medicare, ACA marketplace plans, and job-based coverage up to thousands of dollars per year in additional premiums, deductibles, and other out-of-pocket expenses.

Andrés Argüello, Andrea Ducas

New CBO Estimates Confirm Massive Rise in Uncompensated Care Costs Under One Big Beautiful Bill Act Article
A patient has their blood pressure checked at a medical clinic in Grundy, Virginia.

New CBO Estimates Confirm Massive Rise in Uncompensated Care Costs Under One Big Beautiful Bill Act

New projections from the Congressional Budget Office indicate the House-passed tax and budget bill would lead to 16 million people becoming uninsured, resulting in hospitals and other health care providers shouldering an estimated $36 billion in additional uncompensated care costs by 2034.

Andrés Argüello, Andrea Ducas

The Big, ‘Beautiful’ Bill’s Health Care Cuts Would Drive Up Uncompensated Care and Threaten Vulnerable Hospitals Article
Staff members remove a sign following a press conference after House passage of the tax and spending bill.

The Big, ‘Beautiful’ Bill’s Health Care Cuts Would Drive Up Uncompensated Care and Threaten Vulnerable Hospitals

House Republicans’ proposals would lead to 14 million people becoming uninsured, forcing hospitals and other health care providers to foot the bill of $31 billion in additional uncompensated care costs by 2034.

Andrés Argüello, Andrea Ducas

The Devastating Harms of House Republicans’ Big, ‘Beautiful’ Bill by State and Congressional District Article
Speaker of the House Mike Johnson (R-LA) arrives to a House Rules Committee meeting on the One Big Beautiful Bill Act at the U.S. Capitol.

The Devastating Harms of House Republicans’ Big, ‘Beautiful’ Bill by State and Congressional District

Estimates for the increase in number of uninsured people by 2034; how many people could lose some or all SNAP benefits; and the number of jobs at risk due to elimination of clean energy tax credits under the One, Big, Beautiful Bill Act.

Colin Seeberger, Andrea Ducas, Lily Roberts, 3 More Shannon Baker-Branstetter, Kennedy Andara, Kyle Ross

States Must Lead the Way To Protect Workers From Extreme Heat Article
A traffic warden holding up a stop sign with the sun shining behind him

States Must Lead the Way To Protect Workers From Extreme Heat

In the absence of federal action to protect workers from the rising dangers of exposure to extreme heat on the job, states must take the lead—and can look to existing and proposed standards from other localities for guidance.

Jill Rosenthal, Reema Bzeih

The Collateral Damage of Medicaid Work Requirements Article

The Collateral Damage of Medicaid Work Requirements

Congressional Republicans’ proposed Medicaid work reporting requirements could strip coverage from hundreds of thousands of children, cost up to 449,000 jobs, and lead to more than 15,400 avoidable deaths each year.

Natasha Murphy, Andrea Ducas

Opinion: How Trump’s push to privatize Medicare would be a disaster for seniors In the News

Opinion: How Trump’s push to privatize Medicare would be a disaster for seniors

In an op-ed published by MarketWatch, Andrea Ducas and David Lipschutz explain why the Trump administration wants to make Medicare Advantage the default enrollment for all Medicare recipients and how doing so would devastate Americans' wallets.

MarketWatch

Andrea Ducas, David Lipschutz

How Congressional Republicans’ Health Care Plans Will Spike Health Insurance Premiums for Older Adults Article
The rising sun flares through the windows of the U.S. Capitol Dome.

How Congressional Republicans’ Health Care Plans Will Spike Health Insurance Premiums for Older Adults

Congressional Republican plans to slash Medicaid funding and allow the enhanced Affordable Care Act premium tax credits to expire will significantly raise insurance costs for older Americans with marketplace coverage.

Natasha Murphy, Andrea Ducas, Kennedy Andara, 1 More Brian Keyser

CAP Comments on Proposed Marketplace Integrity and Affordability Rule Article

CAP Comments on Proposed Marketplace Integrity and Affordability Rule

The Center for American Progress submitted comments to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services opposing proposals that would raise health care costs, restrict eligibility, and limit enrollment for Affordable Care Act coverage.

Natasha Murphy

CAP Comments on Proposed Notice of Benefit and Payment Parameters for 2025 Article

CAP Comments on Proposed Notice of Benefit and Payment Parameters for 2025

The Center for American Progress submitted comments to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services supporting proposals to expand access to health care services and improve consumers’ plan shopping and enrollment experiences in the Affordable Care Act marketplaces.

Natasha Murphy

CAP Comments on CMS Contract Year 2026 Rule Changes Article

CAP Comments on CMS Contract Year 2026 Rule Changes

The Center for American Progress submitted a comment letter to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services on its proposed changes for contract year 2026.

Brian Keyser, Andrea Ducas

CAP Comments on Medicare Advantage Request for Information Article

CAP Comments on Medicare Advantage Request for Information

The Center for American Progress submitted a comment letter to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services on its request for information on Medicare Advantage data.

Andrea Ducas, Brian Keyser

5 Facts About Medicaid Work Requirements Article
A hospital employee gives a tour of a patient room in Hugo, Colorado.

5 Facts About Medicaid Work Requirements

Medicaid work reporting requirements do not promote employment; they create red tape that takes health care away from eligible people, leaving them uninsured.

Natasha Murphy

The Trump Administration and Congressional Republicans’ Plan To Make Billionaires Richer May Make Americans Sicker Article
Cars travel on the highway to and from Los Angeles, which is enveloped in smog.

The Trump Administration and Congressional Republicans’ Plan To Make Billionaires Richer May Make Americans Sicker

The Trump administration and congressional Republicans are working to finance their plans to cut taxes for the ultrawealthy—and they are cutting environmental protection and clean energy programs, endangering American lives and livelihoods, as part of this effort.

Shannon Baker-Branstetter, Lucero Marquez

Research in Ruin: Slashing the NIH Will Stifle Development of Lifesaving Medical Treatments and Harm the Economy Past Event

Research in Ruin: Slashing the NIH Will Stifle Development of Lifesaving Medical Treatments and Harm the Economy

Please join the Center for American Progress for the next in a series of virtual events highlighting the impact that DOGE’s cuts are having on the lives of everyday Americans; this event will focus on how cuts to NIH will limit progress in preventing and curing diseases and damage the economy in the process.

Online only

Medicaid made my brother’s final weeks more peaceful Article

Medicaid made my brother’s final weeks more peaceful

In an op-ed published by NC Newsline, Mia Ives-Rublee describes her family’s experience with Medicaid, which helped provide critical care for her brother during his final months.

NC Newsline

Mia Ives-Rublee

CAP’s Comment on the Department of Labor’s Proposed Regulation on Heat Injury and Illness Prevention Notice in Outdoor and Indoor Work Settings Article

CAP’s Comment on the Department of Labor’s Proposed Regulation on Heat Injury and Illness Prevention Notice in Outdoor and Indoor Work Settings

The Center for American Progress submitted a comment letter to the Department of Labor on the agency’s proposed rule to protect the rising number of workers who are exposed to extreme heat conditions that cause injury, illness, and death across the United States.

Jill Rosenthal, Rosa Barrientos-Ferrer, Kate Petosa

Cutting Medicaid would harm Iowa’s health and economy In the News

Cutting Medicaid would harm Iowa’s health and economy

In an op-ed published by Bleeding Heartland, Sue Dinsdale and Brian Keyser warn that if congressional Republicans slash Medicaid funding, Iowa’s economy could lose $8 billion over the next decade.

Bleeding Heartland

Sue Dinsdale, Brian Keyser

How Cuts to NIH Research Funding Would Hurt States Article
A sign stands near an entrance to the National Institutes of Health.

How Cuts to NIH Research Funding Would Hurt States

Proposed changes to the National Institutes of Health’s $48 billion budget would risk jobs, threaten state economies, and hamper progress toward prevention and treatment of diseases such as cancer.

Marquisha Johns

Policies To Combat Anticompetitive Practices in Health Care Report
The entrance to an emergency room is seen below a tall hospital building.

Policies To Combat Anticompetitive Practices in Health Care

Using their market power, health care providers and payers often leverage anticompetitive contracting terms to maximize profit at the expense of patient access and affordability.

Nicole Rapfogel, Marquisha Johns

‘Patrice: The Movie’: A Reel Progress Screening Past Event
Film promotion for 'Patrice: The Movie,' Garry and Patrice are on a pink background. Garry is in a wheelchair looking up at Patrice. Partrice is wearing glasses and a walking aide smiling at the camera.

‘Patrice: The Movie’: A Reel Progress Screening

Join the Center for American Progress for a special screening and discussion on a documentary rom-com about the next phase of marriage equality: disability.

Center for American Progress

Climate Change Jeopardizes HIV Care in the U.S. Article
Photo shows a black and white sign reading

Climate Change Jeopardizes HIV Care in the U.S.

Policymakers and public health officials need to take steps to integrate climate resilience in HIV/AIDS health care programs to mitigate the disproportionate impact that extreme weather events have on people living with HIV.

Haley Norris

Rising Extreme Heat Compounds the U.S. Maternal Health Crisis Report
A midwife picks greens for a pregnant mother and her daughter.

Rising Extreme Heat Compounds the U.S. Maternal Health Crisis

Policymakers must act to protect the health and safety of pregnant people—including by passing the Protecting Moms and Babies Against Climate Change Act, increasing access to indoor home cooling, and quickly adopting a federal occupational heat standard.

Amina Khalique

Protecting Americans From Extreme Heat Past Event

Protecting Americans From Extreme Heat

Join CAP for an event discussing policy proposals and actions that can protect those most vulnerable to extreme heat.

Center for American Progress

Project 2025 Would Eliminate No-Cost Vaccines for 54 Million Medicare Beneficiaries Article
A patient receives a COVID-19 vaccine from a pharmacist at CVS.

Project 2025 Would Eliminate No-Cost Vaccines for 54 Million Medicare Beneficiaries

The Project 2025 agenda would cause Medicare beneficiaries to lose no-cost access to lifesaving vaccines, increasing their health care costs and jeopardizing their health—particularly for older Black and Latino adults and those with lower incomes.

Jill Rosenthal, Marquisha Johns

Protecting Older Adults From the Growing Threats of Extreme Heat Report
Older adults at three tables play dominos inside a cooling center.

Protecting Older Adults From the Growing Threats of Extreme Heat

Policymakers must improve heat resilience among older Americans, who face higher risks of extreme heat-related health conditions and deaths, and strengthen the social support and health care systems serving this growing share of the population.

Marquisha Johns, Beth Almeida, Jill Rosenthal

Project 2025’s Medicare Changes Would Restrict Older Americans’ Access to Care and Imperil the Program’s Financial Health Article
Close-up on hands tipping pills out of a bottle onto a table; pill organizer nearby

Project 2025’s Medicare Changes Would Restrict Older Americans’ Access to Care and Imperil the Program’s Financial Health

By making Medicare Advantage—privatized Medicare—the default option for all Medicare enrollees, Project 2025’s plan would lead to a multibillion-dollar giveaway to corporations that would limit older Americans’ health care choices while putting Medicare’s future at risk.

Brian Keyser, Andrea Ducas

Event Recap: State Policy Efforts To Avert and Alleviate Medical Debt Article
The back of a nurse is seen as they tend to a patient in a hospital bed.

Event Recap: State Policy Efforts To Avert and Alleviate Medical Debt

The fourth session in the Center for American Progress’ state health care affordability series highlighted policies in Minnesota and Oregon as well as model legislation aimed at protecting consumers from the financial burdens of medical debt.

Natasha Murphy

State Policy Efforts to Avert and Alleviate Medical Debt Past Event

State Policy Efforts to Avert and Alleviate Medical Debt

Join the Center for American Progress for a virtual discussion with state officials and legal experts on policy options to protect consumers from the financial burdens of medical debt.

Center for American Progress | Online

How the Affordable Care Act Improved Access to Preventive Health Services Report
Woman lifting smiling daughter into the air

How the Affordable Care Act Improved Access to Preventive Health Services

Congress must protect and build on the Affordable Care Act’s provisions related to disease prevention and health promotion over and beyond the law’s historic health coverage expansions—particularly in light of the recent Braidwood v. Becerra decision.

Marquisha Johns, Jill Rosenthal

Supreme Court Dismisses Idaho v. United States Without Making a Decision on Emergency Abortion Care Article
The U.S. Supreme Court is pictured on June 26, 2024, a day before issuing its ruling in Idaho v. United States.

Supreme Court Dismisses Idaho v. United States Without Making a Decision on Emergency Abortion Care

While the merits of Idaho v. United States will be decided by the lower courts, the U.S. Supreme Court admitted to procedural miscalculations that directly compromised the safety of pregnant patients in Idaho—underscoring how pregnant patients and medical providers will continue to be caught in the chaos and confusion sowed by the politicization of medication.

Sabrina Talukder

Lowering Costs for American Families Past Event

Lowering Costs for American Families

Join CAP for a conversation with Neera Tanden, Domestic Policy Advisor to President Joe Biden.

Center for American Progress

CAP Responds to Request for Information on Consolidation in Health Care Markets Article

CAP Responds to Request for Information on Consolidation in Health Care Markets

The Center for American Progress submitted a response to the U.S. Department of Justice, Federal Trade Commission, and U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ request for information on consolidation in health care markets.

Natasha Murphy, Nicole Rapfogel, Alexandra Thornton, 3 More Marc Jarsulic, Andrea Ducas, Brian Keyser

State Policy Efforts To Improve Prescription Drug Affordability for Consumers Past Event

State Policy Efforts To Improve Prescription Drug Affordability for Consumers

Join the Center for American Progress for a virtual discussion with state officials on initiatives to lower pharmaceutical costs and improve affordability and access.

Center for American Progress | Online

Abortion Access Mapped by Congressional District: 6-Week Abortion Ban Update Article

Abortion Access Mapped by Congressional District: 6-Week Abortion Ban Update

Florida’s extreme abortion ban for women who reach six weeks of pregnancy has essentially cut off abortion access for women in the South; new analysis by the Center for American Progress maps the latest driving times to an abortion clinic and the changes since the Dobbs decision by congressional district that, as a consequence of reduced abortion access, increase average district driving times by 300 percent nationally.

Sara Estep

Film Screening: ‘The Bitter Pill’ Past Event

Film Screening: ‘The Bitter Pill’

A documentary about the biggest civil litigation in U.S. history that took on pharmaceutical companies and their role in the opioid epidemic. The film will be followed by a discussion with the filmmakers.

Center For American Progress | 1333 H St. NW Washington DC 20005 | In-Person Only | Registration for this event has closed.

Event Recap: State Policy Efforts To Enhance Consumer Protections in Health Care and Improve the Value of Insurance Article
End of a hospital bed seen through a door

Event Recap: State Policy Efforts To Enhance Consumer Protections in Health Care and Improve the Value of Insurance

The second session in the Center for American Progress’ state health care affordability series highlighted policies that Connecticut, Tennessee, and Texas have implemented to address common barriers that undermine affordability and compromise access to care.

Natasha Murphy

Project 2025’s Distortion of a Reconstruction-Era Law Could Enact a National Abortion Ban Article
Photo shows an empty room with cabinets and an exam chair in the center

Project 2025’s Distortion of a Reconstruction-Era Law Could Enact a National Abortion Ban

This column is the first out of two pieces highlighting how far-right extremists plan to misapply the Comstock Act to eliminate access to medication abortion through the mail by overriding the independence of the U.S. Department of Justice.

Sabrina Talukder

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