A vacant hallway at Vaughan Regional Medical Center in Selma, AL, Tuesday, Sep. 3, 2024 in Selma, Ala.Alabama hospitals say that Medicare’s wage reimbursement index isn’t keeping up with their needs. The League of Women Voters Greater Montgomery Chapter held a post-election meeting where participants discussed the link between politics, government and personal health during the nation’s transition. (Will McLelland for Alabama Reflector)
The League of Women Voters Greater Montgomery Chapter discussed health care in a post-election outlook meeting last week.
Aretha Dix, a retired Air Force health care administrator and a rural health care strategist with wellness consulting firm Lebleu Fields, pointed to the importance of understanding the intersection of politics, government and personal health as the nation transitions into a new administration.
“Health equity isn’t just a medical issue—it’s tied to social determinants like education, income, and geography,” Dix said.
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The League of Women Voters is a national political nonprofit focusing on civic engagement, such as conducting voter registration drives, providing voter information and advocating for voting rights. The organization also advocates for issues like health care reform and immigration.
The meeting also explored the emotional toll of the recent election. Participants were invited to share their feelings post-election using emojis, with responses ranging from “angry” to “afraid.”
“It’s been a roller coaster for me,” said Amy Hasting, the chapter treasurer, who described feeling overwhelmed and working to regain perspective.
A significant portion of the discussion revolved around gaps in civic education and their impact on voter turnout and policy understanding. While some attendees argued that civics can be adequately taught in schools, others highlighted challenges in retention and application.
“A lot of people didn’t understand what separation of powers meant or how their vote impacts their community,” Dix said.
Dix discussed the importance of understanding the separation of powers, emphasizing its direct impact on health equity and public policy. She said the roles of the three branches—legislative, executive, and judicial—shape policies that affect everyday life.
“Even if you’re not directly impacted, you know someone or these things had an impact on your community somehow, and if they haven’t had it, I guarantee you they will,” Dix said.
She mentioned the Affordable Care Act, which falls under the legislative branch’s responsibility, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s public health guidelines, overseen by the executive branch. Judicial decisions, she said, have also had far-reaching implications for health policy, citing cases like Roe v. Wade.
“Many people went into this election without fully grasping how these checks and balances influence their lives,” she said, adding that there is a need for more civic education.
Bridget Seritt, a health care advocate from Colorado, said prescription drug affordability boards, state-level agencies that review prescription drug costs, and the risks of potential Medicaid and Medicare cuts.
“If those programs are reduced, it will disproportionately harm the most vulnerable members of our society,” she warned.
Dix also discussed the power of storytelling in advocacy going forward.
“Facts tell, but stories sell,” Diggs said, encouraging attendees to use personal narratives to influence policymakers. Seritt said sharing her X-rays during a legislative push helped secure crucial support for rare disease treatments.
Carol Mosely, president of the Montgomery chapter said that the organization is nonpartisan but “quite political.”
“We are very active where issues are concerned, and we are going to be very active in the Legislature this year,” Mosely said.
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