Health care and research under the “One Big Beautiful Bill”

Session Submission Type: Workshop

Description

What does it mean to provide care and conduct health research under the “One Big Beautiful Bill”? How will this policy impact society, especially those most vulnerable?

The HR1 Act is a reconciliation bill passed by Congress in July 2025 colloquially known as the “One Big Beautiful Bill.” The Act codified budget amendments passed by Congress for the 2025 financial year in order to support tax reform by making significant cuts to social safety net programs including food security and healthcare. Some of the provisions in the Bill are only going to impact society later in 2026, however the anticipated consequences are likely to be widespread and no doubt include unintended consequences for beneficiaries as well as institutions. The proposed workshop brings together a panel of scholars and practitioners who through their practice and research can address emergent dynamics occurring amongst patient populations and the organizations serving these groups. Topics will span critical fields in healthcare including immigrant health, primary care provision, sexual and reproductive health, and policy advocacy.

Learning objectives
• Detail the challenges and opportunities (if at all) presented by the current health care environment in the United States and abroad;
• Discuss the short- and long-term impact for patients and marginalized populations;
• Reflect on opportunities for policy advocacy in the current political climate;
• Discuss threats and strategies to counter efforts to muzzle academic freedom and repression of information dissemination.

Sub Unit

• Workshops / Policy and Research Workshop

Presenters

• Tara A. McKay, Vanderbilt University

• Jonathan David Shaffer, University of Vermont

• Meredith Van Natta, University of California-Merced

Session Organizers

• Catherine van de Ruit, Ursinus College

• Amy Zhou, Barnard College