Both Democratic and Republican state legislators from across
the US agree on the need to control health care costs, according to a new
survey published
in the American Journal of Public Health. However, other top priorities
between the parties differ strongly. Republicans prioritized smaller government
along with reducing costs while Democrats prioritize improving health equity
with cost control. Republicans were split among themselves between prioritizing
improving overall health and reducing government involvement in health care.
The authors suggest that this reflects a split in the party between moderates
and conservatives. There was no difference between legislators based on
geography or legislative chamber. The results suggest opportunities for
bipartisan progress on health reform, especially on controlling costs, and
messaging for advocates. The survey was supported by the Commonwealth
and Milbank Memorial Funds.
