Category: the business of health care

President Biden, COVID-19, and Beyond

In his 2023 State of the Union Address, President Joe Biden highlighted significant progress in fighting the pandemic. His approach emphasized vaccine accessibility, minimizing spread, safely reopening business and schools, and srotecting the most vulnerable.

update June 30, 2026

On March 11,2021 President Biden addressed the country about the current progress of ending the COVID-19 pandemic. He said

I carry a card in my pocket with the number of Americans who have died from COVID to date. It’s on the back of my schedule. As of now, the total deaths in America: 527,726.

He announced the country will have enough vaccine for every adult to be vaccinated by the end of May 2021.

Concerning current vaccination progress, we have vaccinated 65% of people over age 65 and 70% of people over age 70. About schools, he said

with the passage of the American Rescue Plan — I thank the House and Senate for passing it — and my…. plan to vaccinate teachers and school staff….. we can accelerate the massive, nationwide effort to reopen our schools safely and meet my goal… of opening the majority of K-8 schools in my first 100 days in office. This is going to be the number one priority of my new Secretary of Education, Miguel Cardona.

In his 2023 State of the Union Address, President Joe Biden said,

 let’s recognize how far we came in the fight against the pandemic itself.

While the virus is not gone, thanks to the resilience of the American people and the ingenuity of medicine, we’ve broken the COVID grip on us.

COVID deaths are down by 90 percent. We’ve saved millions of lives and opened up our country — we opened our country back up.

And soon, we’ll end the public health emergency.

But we will remember the toll and pain that will never go away for so many. More than 1 million Americans have lost their lives to COVID.

Families grieving. Children orphaned. Empty chairs at the dining room table.

We remember them, and we remain vigilant.

Thanks to usnews.com for publishing the complete transcript of his speech at this link.

President Joe Biden on the Coronavirus Pandemic

an electron microscope image of the coronavirus
the Coronavirus SARS-CoV-2, responsible for causing COVID-19- photo used with permission, CDC.GOV

2020-The Biden-Harris Plan

During their campaign for the White House, Mr. Biden and his running mate, Kamala Harris, posted a 7-point plan to confront and control COVID-19.

2021-National Strategy for the COVID-19 Response and Pandemic Preparedness

(This report was available at whitehouse.gov but is no longer active.)

President Biden, Vice President Harris, and their science and healthcare teams developed a plan with 7 goals to end the pandemic and prevent others. . Here is a list of the 7 goals with a few of the points of each goal.

1. Restore trust with the American people.
  • establishes a federal COVID-19 response team to coordinate efforts
  • regular public briefings led by science experts
  • track and make data available to the public by the CDC
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) activated its Emergency Operations Center (EOC) to coordinate with the World Health Organization (WHO), federal, state and local public health partners, and clinicians in response to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak. CDC is closely monitoring the situation and working 24/7 to provide updates.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) activated its Emergency Operations Center (EOC) to coordinate with the World Health Organization (WHO), federal, state and local public health partners, and clinicians in response to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak. CDC is closely monitoring the situation and working 24/7 to provide updates credit James Gathany, public domain
2.Mount a safe, effective, and comprehensive vaccination campaign.
  • increase the production of vaccines
  • give states clearer projections on vaccine availability
  • partner with states to create more vaccine centers
  • launch a national campaign to educate and encourage Americans on vaccine
3. Mitigate spread through expanding masking, testing, data, treatments,health care workforce, and clear public health standards.
  • asking Americans to wear masks for 100 days (note-this adds to any state or local recommendations or mandates on mask use)
  • require masks on public transportation
  • the CDC develop guidelines to help schools and businesses to reopen
  • create programs to develop new treatments for COVID-19
cloth facial coverings to prevent transmission of COVID-19
Mask use required on airplanes, trains, and other public transportation
4.Immediately expand emergency relief and exercise the Defence Production Act.
  • increase emergency funding to the states for pandemic costs, including for PPE and use of National Guard
  • invoke the Defense Production Act to increase the supply of PPE, and testing and vaccination supplies
5. Safely reopen schools, businesses, and travel while protecting workers.
  • develop a national strategy to reopen most schools within 100 days
  • federal agencies to issue updated guidance on protection for workers
  • asks Congress to provide financial aid to schools, universities, and daycares (cost in the billions)
a girl with a large backpack, walking to a school bus
6. Protect those most at risk and advance equity, including across racial, ethnic and rural/urban lines.
  • establishes an equity task force to address disparities based on race, ethnicity, and geography
  • create a U.S. Public Health Workforce to help with testing and vaccinations in their communities
Healthy People 2030, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion. Retrieved [date graphic was accessed], from https://health.gov/healthypeople/objectives-and-data/social-determinants-health
7. Restore U.S. leadership globally and build better preparedness for future threats.
  • rejoin the World Health Organization
  • increase humanitarian aid and support efforts to fight COVID-19 around the world
  • asks for Congressional support to establish a national center to prepare for future biological threats
2 bandaids crossed on a world globe
photo from the Lightstock collection (affiliate link)

Life After the Pandemic

Did you expect to live during a pandemic? Probably not, I know I didn’t expect to not only live but practice medicine while a contagious virus spread through the world.

In what ways was your daily life impacted by the pandemic and how did you cope with those challenges?

What did you learn that might help you in a future medical crisis, either public or private?

If you or your family have persistent health challenges due to COVID, are you finding sources for help and support? What else might help you toward regaining health and wholeness?

Resources for Dealing with Post-COVID Health Issues

Long Covid Resources -CDC

Long Covid Alliance

RECOVER COVID Initiative

Exploring the HEART of health

Thank you for reading this post. Please follow this blog and me on social media.

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Dr. Aletha

Biden’s Plan for Healthcare in the 2020 Election

In 2021, Joseph Biden became the 46th US President, succeeding Donald Trump. In his 2023 State of the Union Address, he addressed healthcare, proposing reforms like Medicare expansion and lower drug costs. His campaign focuses on affordable, quality healthcare, pharmaceutical regulation, reproductive rights, mental health support, and personalized community health plans, with future plans for specific communities.

updated February 10, 2023

Joseph Robinette Biden, Jr., was inaugurated as the 46th President of the United States on January 20, 2021. As the Democratic candidate and former Vice President, Biden defeated incumbent President Donald Trump in the 2020 presidential election.

On February 7, 2023 President Biden gave the annual State of the Union Address to Congress and the nation. In it, he discussed several healthcare issues, including Medicare, drug costs, premiums for the ACA, veterans’ exposure to toxic burn pits, and injuries due to gun violence.

Here is a review of what he proposed in his campaign for President. It remains here for historical interest, but you may want to review his record as he left office in 2025.

President Joe Biden’s Healthcare Record

Joe Biden was the 46th U.S. President . During his term, he achieved record-high enrollment in ACA Marketplace plans and proposed expanding subsidies. His administration also focused on public health and mental health initiatives, as well as addressing healthcare costs and prescription drug pricing.

Keep reading
The following was originally published August 18, 2020.

Due to the pandemic caused by the SARS-CoV2 virus, health has been a major topic in both world and national news this year and will continue to be so for months if not years. And health is a major issue in this year’s United States’ presidential election in November 2020.

Health care was a major issue in the 2008 election and proved to be momentous. In his campaign, the Democratic candidate, Barack Obama, promised health care reform and as President he delivered with the passage of the Affordable Care Act, (ACA) the first time Americans have had universal health care.

The ACA sparked heated debate in the 2016 election with the Democratic candidate pledging to build upon it and Republican candidate vowing to dismantle it . This year the debate continues.

Healthcare and the Presidential campaign 2020

In this and a previous post, I review and list what I think are some of the most important points in the health care philosophy of each major party candidate, according to information on their official websites.

I am not endorsing either of the candidates, their party,or their healthcare plans. My intent is to present a non-partisan look at what they have done and propose. If it sounds otherwise, that is unintentional. I’ll give you the links to their sites and encourage you to read them for yourself.

You should also review my post about the Democratic Party healthcare platform.

The challenging candidate-Democrat-Joe R. Biden

Joe R. Biden was a US. Senator from Delaware for 36 years. He served as the 47th Vice President of the United States. He was born November 20, 1942. Mr. Biden is married to Jill Biden and has had 4 children, 2 of them deceased.


The Biden Plan for Healthcare

Access to affordable insurance

  • create a public health option like Medicare
  • increase value of tax credits to lower insurance premiums .
  • expand coverage to low income Americans
  • premium-free access to the public option for those 4.9 million individuals who would be eligible for Medicaid 
  • opposes every effort to get rid of the Affordable Care Act

Affordable, quality healthcare, less complex system

  • Middle class families will get a premium tax credit to help them pay for coverage.
  • Stop surprise billing: bar health care providers from charging patients out-of-network rates when the patient doesn’t have control over which provider the patient sees (for example, during a hospitalization)
  • Lower costs and improve outcomes by partnering with the healthcare workforce .

Stop “abuse of power” by pharmaceutical companies

  • Repeal the law allowing pharmaceutical companies to avoid negotiating with Medicare over drug prices
  • Limit launch prices for new drugs facing no competition and limit price increases for existing drugs to no higher than general inflation
  • Allow consumers to buy prescription drugs from other countries
  • Stop drug companies’ tax break for advertising
  • Improve the supply of generic drugs.

Make healthcare a right for all, not a privilege for a few

  • Expand access to contraception and protect the constitutional right to an abortion
  • Restore federal funding to Planned Parenthood
  • Reduce the high maternal mortality rate, which especially impacts women of color
  • Defend health care protections for all regardless of gender, gender identity, or sexual orientation.
  • Double federal investment in community health centers
  • Improve access to mental health care and remove the stigma

“In the months ahead, Biden will put forward additional plans to tackle health challenges affecting specific communities, including access to health care in rural communities, gun violence, and opioid addiction.”

Oval Office replica
replica of the Oval Office at the Reagan Presidential Library, photo by Dr. Aletha

Exploring the HEART of health

a group of lapel buttons, red, white and blue, saying VOTE

This photo is from the media site Lightstock.com, an affiliate which pays this blog a commission for purchases made from this link

Thank you for reading this post. Please follow this blog and me on social media.

I share information and inspiration to help you transform challenges into opportunities for learning and growth.

Add your name to the subscribe box to be notified of new posts by email. Click the link to read the post and browse other content. It’s that simple. No spam.

I enjoy seeing who is new to Watercress Words. When you subscribe, I will visit your blog or website. Thanks and see you next time.

Dr. Aletha