Dr. Céline Gounder

Yeah, so some of this would need to be congressional action. Some of it could be done by the secretary of HHS and by executive order by the president. This is a very heavy lift to do something like this. You've had a number of CDC directors who've tried to reform the agency numerous times, and it is a very time-consuming, very challenging thing to take on.

Yeah, so some of this would need to be congressional action. Some of it could be done by the secretary of HHS and by executive order by the president. This is a very heavy lift to do something like this. You've had a number of CDC directors who've tried to reform the agency numerous times, and it is a very time-consuming, very challenging thing to take on.

You know, in terms of congressional action, you would need that in order to split off certain functions from the CDC and to fund these things independently. In terms of the FDA rescinding authorization for polio vaccines... It really depends on to what degree the incoming president and HHS secretary and FDA commissioner follow what have been institutional norms.

You know, in terms of congressional action, you would need that in order to split off certain functions from the CDC and to fund these things independently. In terms of the FDA rescinding authorization for polio vaccines... It really depends on to what degree the incoming president and HHS secretary and FDA commissioner follow what have been institutional norms.

Now, do they have the power to single-handedly do some of these things? Yes, but that would be really extraordinary to see an FDA commissioner or an HHS secretary taking that kind of action and that there are processes for withdrawing an approval, you would definitely see lawsuits from the pharmaceutical companies that produce these products if there was threat of rescinding of an approval.

Now, do they have the power to single-handedly do some of these things? Yes, but that would be really extraordinary to see an FDA commissioner or an HHS secretary taking that kind of action and that there are processes for withdrawing an approval, you would definitely see lawsuits from the pharmaceutical companies that produce these products if there was threat of rescinding of an approval.

And they would have standing in terms of, is there actually science to support whether these actions are evidence-based and warranted?

And they would have standing in terms of, is there actually science to support whether these actions are evidence-based and warranted?

No, I do agree. Because right now you have budgetary lines for the CDC. You do not have budgetary lines for these separate agencies that they're proposing. So you really do need to have congressional action to implement that kind of split.

No, I do agree. Because right now you have budgetary lines for the CDC. You do not have budgetary lines for these separate agencies that they're proposing. So you really do need to have congressional action to implement that kind of split.

Well, if you read Project 2025, they literally spell out that the cost of Medicare and Medicaid combined since 1967, which is when these programs were started, is about $17.8 trillion. And the US deficits for that same time period are $17.9 trillion. So in other words, they are pretty clear in that they think that Medicare and Medicaid are the principal drivers of our national debt.

Well, if you read Project 2025, they literally spell out that the cost of Medicare and Medicaid combined since 1967, which is when these programs were started, is about $17.8 trillion. And the US deficits for that same time period are $17.9 trillion. So in other words, they are pretty clear in that they think that Medicare and Medicaid are the principal drivers of our national debt.

And if we want to eliminate our national debt, we need to dramatically scale back, if not eliminate, Medicare and Medicaid. That's essentially what's implied in what's written in Project 2025. There are several strategies to try to scale back spending, one of which is, as you mentioned, privatization of Medicare.

And if we want to eliminate our national debt, we need to dramatically scale back, if not eliminate, Medicare and Medicaid. That's essentially what's implied in what's written in Project 2025. There are several strategies to try to scale back spending, one of which is, as you mentioned, privatization of Medicare.

A lot of people who have Medicare Advantage plans may think they're getting a very good deal. They get dental, vision benefits, maybe other perks thrown in. And it's great until they need to see a doctor, they get hospitalized, and then realize that their coverage is actually really inferior to what they might have had if they had traditional Medicare.

A lot of people who have Medicare Advantage plans may think they're getting a very good deal. They get dental, vision benefits, maybe other perks thrown in. And it's great until they need to see a doctor, they get hospitalized, and then realize that their coverage is actually really inferior to what they might have had if they had traditional Medicare.

You mentioned the Medicare's authority to negotiate drug prices under the Inflation Reduction Act. This is an area where the incoming administration is under pressure to roll back that authority. And this has very tangible impacts for people. One of the drugs that was likely going to be in the next round of drug negotiations is semaglutide, also known as Ozempic or Wigovi.

You mentioned the Medicare's authority to negotiate drug prices under the Inflation Reduction Act. This is an area where the incoming administration is under pressure to roll back that authority. And this has very tangible impacts for people. One of the drugs that was likely going to be in the next round of drug negotiations is semaglutide, also known as Ozempic or Wigovi.

A lot of people are desperate to get access to that medication. currently is very expensive. The Biden administration has proposed new guidance that Medicare can cover these medications, also known as GLP-1 weight loss drugs, for people even if they don't have diabetes or cardiovascular disease, but simply because they have obesity.

A lot of people are desperate to get access to that medication. currently is very expensive. The Biden administration has proposed new guidance that Medicare can cover these medications, also known as GLP-1 weight loss drugs, for people even if they don't have diabetes or cardiovascular disease, but simply because they have obesity.