With a newly won majority in the House, Democrats will look to push a new healthcare agenda next year, according to The Hill.
Here are the five biggest healthcare legislation goals Democrats will be pursuing in 2019:
1. Secure protections for those with pre-existing conditions. In the midterm elections, Democratic candidates highlighted Republican legislation weakening protections for people with pre-existing conditions. The new majority may pursue laws that oppose short-term insurance or intervene in a lawsuit brought on by Republican states that seeks to overturn the ACA.
2. Allow Medicare to negotiate drug prices. President Donald Trump previously has voiced support for a plan that would allow Medicare to negotiate drug prices, though pharmaceutical interests have lobbied hard against it.
3. Increase competition through affordable generic drugs. Though it may be difficult to generate support for a Medicare price negotiation bill in the Senate, Democrats have a better chance of passing the Creates Act, which prevents pharmaceutical companies from delaying the rollout of generic alternatives.
4. Strengthen the ACA. While Democrats have been successful in staving off Republican attempts to dismantle the ACA, they may try to expand the ACA to those without coverage and make it more generous for those with coverage .
5. Push "Medicare for All." Though not all Democrats support Medicare for All legislation, the proposal has gained traction within the party, and 2019 may be the year it receives the broad-based support required to bring the bill to the floor.