Ken Perez

Given President Donald Trump’s use of tariffs and their significant worldwide economic impact, it’s not surprising that the word tariff has been considered a candidate for Word of the Year.a Whether or not you agree with Trump’s tariff policy, the United States has a powerful ability to impose tariffs, rooted in the immensity of the…

Moves by the Trump administration to reduce HHS’s discretionary budget by 26.2% could have unintended adverse consequences. They not only could undermine the nation’s standing in the field of medical research, but also could derail progress in human health advances, promising medical findings and public health preparedness. Cuts to discretionary spending by the National Institutes…

What a difference eight years can make. On Jan. 20, 2017, his first day in office as the nation’s 45th president, Donald Trump issued just one executive order (EO), scaling back parts of the Affordable Care Act (ACA). It set the stage for Congress’ subsequent repeal, via the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017,…

The 2024 presidential election features a shift in policy position by Democratic Party candidate Kamala Harris, who has distanced herself from her previous advocacy of Medicare for All, while Republican Party candidate Donald Trump appears less intent on repealing the Affordable Care Act.

What do voters care most about? It’s arguably the most salient question in every election cycle. Each March, to answer that question, Gallup asks Americans to rate their concern about a variety of national issues. This year’s survey asked respondents about 14 different issues.a Inflation came out on top, with 55% of those surveyed worrying…

Immigration, for decades one of the most politically charged issues in the United States, is emerging as a top issue during this election year. A poll of 1,074 U.S. adults conducted Nov. 30-Dec. 4, 2023, found that immigration ranked as the fourth-highest priority for 2024, with 35% of those surveyed indicating that they want the…

Homelessness is a worsening problem for the United States, and in multiple ways, it is a healthcare issue. Many of our nation’s failed efforts to solve this problem, outlined below, do not fully acknowledge this reality. But a promising new not-for-profit initiative, Built for Zero, may provide a truly viable solution using a data-driven approach…

The year 2022 has been characterized by some economists as being the worst financial year for U.S. hospitals in decades as expense growth has outpaced revenue increases. As a result, many hospitals and health systems have a pressing need to launch initiatives that can effectively repair their negative operating margins.a  Labor shortages and inflation demand…

Studies conducted over the past several years have found the polarization is increasing in American society.a And not surprisingly, the 2022 midterm elections reflected the deep divisions. Two fiercely contested Senate seats in this past election are emblematic. Democrat John Fetterman won Pennsylvania’s hotly contested Senate race over Republican Mehmet Oz, MD, taking over the seat…

Passed on Aug. 7, 2022, the Inflation Reduction Act has policy provisions that are significant for providers, but overall, it constitutes a mixed bag for hospitals and health systems.