With Republicans maintaining control of the House of Representatives and regaining control of the White House and Senate, the landscape of U.S. health policy has changed significantly. The incoming leadership on key congressional committees will be pivotal in determining the future direction of health care legislation and reforms over the next two years. Here’s an overview of the new leaders in these committees and what we can expect in the 119th Congress.
House Committee on Energy and Commerce
Chairman: Rep. Brett Guthrie (R-KY)
Rep. Brett Guthrie (R-KY), now at the helm of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, replaces retiring Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA). Rep. Guthrie previously served as the chair of the committee’s Health Subcommittee. During his subcommittee chairmanship, Guthrie supported legislation to reauthorize Alzheimer’s research funding, address the opioid epidemic, and increase transparency in the health care industry.
So, what does a Guthrie-led Energy and Commerce focus mean for health care? We could see the committee take up bills that failed to pass the House in the 118th Congress. For example, the committee could renew efforts to pass the Building America’s Health Care Workforce Act, which Rep. Guthrie introduced in the last Congress. This bill would have extended certain COVID-era flexibilities, which waived certain training and competency requirements for nurse aids to help skilled nursing facilities and nursing facilities maintain an adequate workforce. This bill passed out of the Energy and Commerce Committee but failed to become law before the last Congress adjourned. This could be especially relevant if the incoming Trump administration repeals President Biden’s nursing home staffing mandate and Rep. Guthrie wants to show the Energy and Commerce Republicans have policy ideas to tackle the nursing home staffing issue. Rep. Guthrie’s new position as chair of the Energy and Commerce Committee also positions him to influence the debate over the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA’s) drug pricing provisions, which are likely to face scrutiny from the incoming Trump administration and Republican majorities in Congress.
Ranking Member: Rep. Frank Pallone (D-NJ)
As the returning Ranking Member, Rep. Pallone will lead Energy and Commerce Democrats in opposing any Republican efforts to repeal or roll back the ACA or the IRA. Additionally, Rep. Pallone will certainly oppose any attempts to change Medicaid to a block grant funding model, which Democrats have argued will gut the program and harm beneficiaries. He will also likely focus on bipartisan opportunities, such as Medicare payment reforms and the potential for revisiting the CURES Act to expand medical research.
Rep. Pallone could also advocate for legislation to advance key Democratic health care priorities and showcase what Democrats would do with a House majority. For example, on December 19, 2024, Rep. Pallone introduced the Lowering Drug Costs for American Families Act.
House Energy and Commerce Health Subcommittee
Chairman Buddy Carter (R-GA)
Rep. Carter, who is a pharmacist by profession, is the newly selected Chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Health Subcommittee. Carter is expected to advocate strongly for issues related to prescription drug prices and pharmacy regulations. He also may find ways to push reform in Medicaid and Medicare by tackling fraud and waste in these programs. Carter is also a critic of the ACA and may try to reduce government spending on health care.
New Ranking Member: Rep. Diana DeGette (D-CO)
Rep. DeGette is expected to continue her advocacy for protecting the ACA and the IRA. She has been an active proponent of women’s health and reproductive services and was a key player in the development of the CURES Act. DeGette may also find common ground with Republicans on issues like Medicare Advantage and Pharmacy Benefit Manager (PBM) reform.
House Committee on Ways and Means
Chairman: Rep. Jason Smith (R-MO)
Returning as Chairman of the Ways and Means Committee, Rep. Jason Smith will influence key health policies, especially those impacting Medicare. As a champion of improving access to care in rural communities, he will likely push for reforms to Medicare payments, particularly to hospitals, with an eye toward addressing access to care in rural and underserved areas. Additionally, with the Committee’s jurisdiction over tax policy, Smith could be instrumental in efforts to address health care costs through tax reforms and expanding Health Savings Accounts (HSAs). Smith may also play a central role if Republicans seek to revisit the ACA or IRA.
Ranking Member: Rep. Richard Neal (D-MA)
Rep. Neal returns as Ranking Member and will likely continue his efforts to protect the ACA and IRA. Known for his bipartisan approach, Neal could potentially work with Republicans on Medicare payment reforms and other areas where there is potential for collaboration.
House Ways and Means Health Subcommittee
Chairman: Rep. Vern Buchanan (R-FL)
Rep. Vern Buchanan, returning as Chair of the Ways and Means Health Subcommittee, will play a key role in debates related to Medicare payment reforms, particularly those related to Medicare Advantage. Buchanan has long advocated for transparency and market-driven health care solutions, which will likely continue as focal points of his leadership.
Ranking Member: Rep. Lloyd Doggett (D-TX)
Rep. Lloyd Doggett, as the Health Subcommittee Ranking Member, will focus on protecting the ACA and IRA while continuing his strong advocacy for controlling drug prices and ensuring robust consumer protections.
Senate Committee on Finance
Chair: Sen. Mike Crapo (R-ID)
With Republicans taking control of the Senate, Sen. Mike Crapo becomes the influential Senate Finance Committee Chair. Crapo is expected to be a driving force behind changes to the ACA, IRA, and Medicaid. He has expressed support for increasing Medicaid flexibility for states, which could lead to proposals like block grants or per capita caps. Additionally, Crapo has shown interest in lowering prescription drug costs through increased competition and transparency.
Ranking Member: Sen. Ron Wyden (D-OR)
Sen. Ron Wyden, now the Ranking Member of the Finance Committee, can be expected to continue to protect the ACA and IRA. Wyden, a known advocate for bipartisan Medicare payment reforms and PBM reform, will likely seek opportunities to collaborate with Republicans where possible.
Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor & Pensions (HELP)
Chair: Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-LA)
Sen. Bill Cassidy takes the reins as Chair of the Senate HELP Committee. Known for his background as a physician, Cassidy is expected to focus on tackling health workforce shortages and reforming programs at the FDA. As a member of both Finance and HELP, he will also play a significant role in discussions on Medicare and Medicaid. As a past leader on legislation to address surprise medical bills, expect Cassidy to play a leading role should concerns arise surrounding this issue or around health plans’ provider networks.
Ranking Member: Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT)
Sen. Bernie Sanders, as Ranking Member, will focus on protecting the ACA and IRA. However, there may be opportunities for bipartisanship on issues like health workforce initiatives and community health center funding, areas where Sanders and Republicans like Cassidy could find common ground. In related news, Sanders joins the Senate Finance Committee, where he will also have the ability to directly impact Medicare and Medicaid payment policy.
What’s Next for Health Policy?
With new leadership in both the House and Senate, various health care proposals will be debated and shaped in the coming years. From potential changes to the ACA and Medicaid to efforts to tackle rising drug costs, the leadership of these committees will be instrumental in shaping the next chapter of U.S. health policy.
While partisan divides remain, there are significant areas for bipartisanship—particularly on issues like Medicare reform, PBM regulation, and workforce shortages. The coming months will likely see a flurry of activity as these new leaders make their mark on the future of health care in the United States.