A majority of individuals, regardless of their political leanings, say the federal government needs to spend more on healthcare programs, according to a KFF Health Tracking Poll released Friday.
The survey of 1,310 people earlier this month highlights several areas in healthcare where the public would like to see things done differently. The results were published three days before a new administration is set to take over in Washington, D.C.
Related: The ongoing struggle of healthcare price transparency
For the poll, KFF presented respondents with a list of healthcare policies that could roll out under the Trump administration or Congress and asked them to rank each item's importance.
Here's what respondents said were some of their top concerns.
Federal spending on Medicare and Medicaid
Of respondents who said federal healthcare program spending should increase, 46% said they supported higher spending for Medicaid and 51% for Medicare. Only 19% said the government spends too much on Medicaid and 15% for Medicare.
The spending measure passed last month in Congress did not include financial support for a number of programs and other sought-after items, like Medicare reimbursement for telehealth and hospital-at-home services, which were extended only to March 31.
The survey also found 81% of respondents said they were concerned that the level of Medicare benefits will decrease while 72% had the same concerns about Medicaid and 70% were worried about the Affordable Care Act marketplaces. Just over half of those surveyed said reducing fraud and waste in government healthcare programs would lead to reductions in benefits. Shortly after the election, President-elect Donald Trump tapped Elon Musk and former candidate Vivek Ramaswamy for what he said would be a new Department of Government Efficiency.
Price transparency requirements
Price transparency for healthcare services remains a top concern, with 61% of respondents favoring more rules and regulations aimed at hospitals and insurers.
In 2021, a law was enacted requiring hospitals to publish data on prices they negotiated with payers, gross charges and discounted cash prices for 300 shoppable services. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services can fine hospitals more than $2 million a year for not following those rules.
The pharmaceutical industry has been on the receiving end of similar criticism, and as a result, industry disruptors like Mark Cuban and his Cost Plus Drug Co., which markets price transparency as a cornerstone of its business, have made inroads.
ACA cost and benefits
The Affordable Care Act was viewed favorably by 64% of survey participants. Additionally, 32% of those surveyed said boosting financial support for marketplace health plans should be a top priority.
However, 72% of Republican respondents said they viewed ACA unfavorably. Data for Democrats was not reported.
Republicans, according to the survey, are less concerned about ACA and Medicaid benefits.
Obamacare been a point of contention for more than a decade, and the Trump administration in 2017 failed in its effort to repeal and replace the program. Trump said during his recent campaign that he plans to improve the program.
Insurance claim denials
A majority of participants, 55%, said more scrutiny and regulation of insurance claim denials is necessary. Only 5% of respondents opposed more regulation.
The Commonwealth Fund released a report in August that found 59% of patients who had a claim denied experienced a delay in care, and 47% reported worse health outcomes.
Claim denials also deal a financial blow to providers, who can end up shouldering the costs of care when insurers refuse coverage. A March report by Premier, a group purchasing and consulting organization that works with providers, found that hospitals and health systems spend an estimated $19.7 billion per year managing denied claims.
Medicare price negotiations
Some 55% of respondents said more prescription drugs need to be added to the list of drugs subject to Medicare price negotiations.
The landmark program, which started with only 10 drugs and involves direct negotiations between the federal government and pharmaceutical companies, was announced by the Biden administration in August 2023. Five months ago, the administration predicted the negotiations will save patients $7.5 billion by 2026.