In a Health Policy brief released earlier this month, Paula Lantz and Emma Carter write about the role of direct democracy in state policy making as it relates to the drivers of population health and health disparities.
Direct democracy through state ballot initiatives holds potential for policy change relating to a large array of important social issues.
For ballot measures, these were the most common topics by category:
Health Care: abortion and Medicaid
Public Health: decriminalization of marijuana, gambling, environment exposures, and firearms
Social Determinants of Health: criminal justice system reform, voting and political representation, education, housing, transportation, and labor policy
Although citizen-initiated ballot measures have shown advancement for population health policy in many states, there are still many challenges faced.
During this week's presidential debate, the U.S. heard perspectives from Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump on health-related topics, including drug prices, reproductive health, and the Affordable Care Act.
Health care and health policy continue to be talking points on both sides of the aisle leading into the 2024 presidential election.
As the U.S. approaches election day, Health Affairs will highlight a selection of its resources—including journal and Forefront articles, health policy briefs, and podcasts—on issues discussed during the campaign.
Today's topic is drug costs and pharmaceutical spending.
Health Affairs' Editor-in-Chief Alan Weil interviews Benedic Ippolito of American Enterprise Institute about his recent paper exploring how expanding Medicare coverage of anti-obesity medicines could result in increased annual spending.
Health Affairs' Jeff Byers welcomes Deputy Editor Jessica Bylander to the program to discuss a recent health advisory issued by US Surgeon General Vivek Murthy declaring parental stress as a public health challenge. They also discuss the Murthy's focus on social media and its impact on mental health.
Health Affairs is the leading peer-reviewed journal at the intersection of health, health care, and policy. Published monthly by Project HOPE, the journal is available in print and online.
Project HOPE is a global health and humanitarian organization that places power in the hands of local health care workers to save lives across the globe. Project HOPE has published Health Affairs since 1981.
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