Brown School students and faculty packed Brown Lounge last week to hear health policy professors Tim McBride and Cailtin McMurtry analyze what the 2024 presidential election could mean for voters’ health and well-being. McBride is the co-director of the Center for Advancing Health Services, Policy & Economics Research (CAHSPER), where McMurtry serves as a fellow.
McMurty kicked off the non-partisan event by examining what polling data says about how Americans feel about the role of government in health care and which health policy issues are most important to them. McBride reviewed each candidate’s past actions and proposed reforms for major health policy issues like the Affordable Care Act, prescription drug prices, reproductive health, gun violence, and LGTBQ+ health.
Next, McMurtry dived into what polling data reveals about the views of the electorate on key health policy issues, noting that eroding trust in scientists among all Americans has and likely will continue to impact the uptake of evidence-based policy among lawmakers.
As the event drew to a close, the atmosphere in Brown Lounge was one of thoughtful engagement. McBride and McMurtry emphasized the direct implications of voters’ decisions at the ballot box on the health and well-being of our communities. Together, they reinforced the importance of an informed electorate in shaping a healthier future. As students and faculty left the event, it was clear that the insights shared would resonate as they reflect on the upcoming election and its potential impact on health policy.
This event was co-sponsored by the Clark-Fox Policy Institute and the Center for Advancing Health Services, Policy & Economics Research and was uplifted by the Gephardt Institute for Civic and Community Engagement as part of Engage Democracy 2024.
