NORD joined a coalition of 33 other patient organizations representing millions of people with pre-existing conditions to release our top priorities for a new administration. “The 100 Days Agenda: A Patient-First Blueprint” is a first-of-its-kind collaboration that outlines specific steps the president and other elected officials can immediately take to protect patients in the first 100 days of their terms in 2021.
The first 100 days of a president’s term and a new congress is a key period when elected officials can leverage post-election momentum to initiate major reforms. Lawmakers have a unique opportunity to use that moment to prioritize patients’ need for quality, affordable health care.
Specifically, the agenda urges policymakers to prioritize patients by:
- Preserving and strengthening access to Medicaid, a crucial lifeline that serves 1 in 5 Americans, and removing roadblocks that were created to reduce patients’ ability to obtain health care using this vital program.
- Rolling back the expanded availability of non-compliant and insurance-like products, which resemble insurance but provide insufficient coverage and discriminate against those with pre-existing conditions.
- Improving access to high-quality coverage available in the marketplace, through extended open-enrollment periods, increased subsidies, and more support to help patients understand their insurance options.
- Eliminating surprise medical bills, which are devastating to families and discourage patients from receiving needed health care.
Read “The 100 Days Agenda: A Patient-First Blueprint” in its entirety here.