Health

The Center for American Progress analyzes critical health care issues and advocates for policies to improve access, affordability, and quality of care through research on topics like reproductive rights, prescription drug costs, mental health, Medicare expansion, and health equity initiatives.

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Resumen ejecutivo: Una Declaración de Derechos del Paciente para reducir los costos de la atención médica Hoja informativa
Two prescription pill bottles on table, one standing and one on its side with pills spilling out

Resumen ejecutivo: Una Declaración de Derechos del Paciente para reducir los costos de la atención médica

El plan de CAP limitaría los aumentos injustificados de las primas, reduciría los deducibles al frenar los precios hospitalarios atípicos, y sustituiría la autorización previa por una revisión clínica independiente y basada en la evidencia, con el fin de reducir los costos de atención médica y ampliar el acceso oportuno a la atención.

Executive Summary: A Patients’ Bill of Rights To Lower Health Care Costs Fact Sheet
Two prescription pill bottles on table, one standing and one on its side with pills spilling out

Executive Summary: A Patients’ Bill of Rights To Lower Health Care Costs

CAP’s plan would limit unjustified premium increases; reduce deductibles by reining in outlier hospital prices; and replace prior authorization with independent, evidence-based clinical review to lower health care costs and increase access to timely care.

How the Trump Administration’s Embrace of Oil, Gas, and Chemical Industry Interests Will Endanger Children’s Health Report
Children climb on play equipment during sunset in Liberty State Park.

How the Trump Administration’s Embrace of Oil, Gas, and Chemical Industry Interests Will Endanger Children’s Health

The Trump administration’s actions to eliminate lifesaving environmental protections would allow corporate polluters to emit more toxins and chemicals, exposing more than 2 million kids to pollutants that increase the likelihood of lifelong health concerns—such as asthma, autism, ADHD, and cancer—while undercutting the administration’s own “Make America Healthy Again” agenda.

CAP Calls on CMS To Hold Medicare Advantage Plans Accountable for Upcoding, Predatory Marketing, Prior Authorization Practices, and AI Use in Coverage Decisions Article

CAP Calls on CMS To Hold Medicare Advantage Plans Accountable for Upcoding, Predatory Marketing, Prior Authorization Practices, and AI Use in Coverage Decisions

The Center for American Progress submitted comments to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) urging reforms to rein in Medicare Advantage overpayments, strengthen accountability for providing equitable care, and protect beneficiaries from predatory marketing practices and prior authorization-related harms.

Neda Ashtari

Why Democrats Won the Shutdown In the News

Why Democrats Won the Shutdown

In an op-ed published by The Wall Street Journal, Neera Tanden discusses why Democrats were right to fight for health care subsidies during the government shutdown.

The Wall Street Journal

Neera Tanden

How Congress can still get health care subsidies in place for 2026 In the News

How Congress can still get health care subsidies in place for 2026

In an op-ed published by STAT, Emily urges Congress to extend the enhanced tax credits into 2026 while also outlining several other concrete actions the federal government could take to make health care more affordable.

STAT

Emily Gee

How Private Equity and the Financialization of Health Services Can Undermine Access to Sexual and Reproductive Care Report

How Private Equity and the Financialization of Health Services Can Undermine Access to Sexual and Reproductive Care

As firms increasingly invest in OB-GYN practices, fertility clinics, maternity care services, and other health care facilities, policymakers must regulate private equity activity and strengthen oversight of corporate control of health care to preserve Americans’ access to care.

Kierra B. Jones

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.

The Trump Administration’s Attack on Environmental Protections Will Increase Cancer-Causing Pollution Report
In the background of the view of a residential street, smokestacks at the Hugh L. Spurlock Generating Station are seen in Maysville, Kentucky.

The Trump Administration’s Attack on Environmental Protections Will Increase Cancer-Causing Pollution

The Trump administration’s plan to torpedo air pollution limits and cancer prevention programs while ripping away health care and cancer treatment and canceling clean energy investments will increase preventable cancer cases among Americans—all to enhance polluters’ profits and cut taxes for the superrich.

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.

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Related Priorities

Tackling Climate Change and Environmental Injustice
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Tackling Climate Change and Environmental Injustice

We pursue climate action that meets the crisis’s urgency, creates good-quality jobs, benefits disadvantaged communities, and restores U.S. credibility on the global stage.

Strengthening Health
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Strengthening Health

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

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