It’s the economy, stupid … but it should also be healthcare

Leading Republican presidential candidates understand 2024 isn't just about the economy. Fixing healthcare becomes a priority, as medical costs continue to skyrocket.

Fast-forward over 15 years, and healthcare is still not "fixed" despite continued promises and even highly touted laws being passed, such as the passage of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), or Obamacare, over a decade ago. While some may argue we’ve made some progress, it’s not been nearly sufficient.   David N. Bernstein, MD, PhD, MBA, MEI is a resident physician at the Harvard Combined Orthopaedic Residency Program at Massachusetts General Hospital, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, and Boston Children’s Hospital and a Senior Researcher in health care transformation at Harvard Business School. Follow him on X (formerly Twitter): @DNBernsteinMD.

I attended town halls, listened to advertisements and witnessed speeches that had audiences ranging from dozens to hundreds (or maybe even thousands) of people. Interestingly, I recall healthcare being a top priority for many campaigns, a policy area that had impacted (mostly negatively) Americans from all backgrounds. That always stuck with me.