As we dissect the results of the 2024 elections, one trend is crystal clear: the healthcare needs of rural Americans may have played a more significant though underappreciated role in driving political sentiment.
In states that prioritized safeguarding the 340B drug discount program—a lifeline for countless small hospitals—Donald Trump’s support grew even in areas already considered strongholds of conservatism.
The 340B program represents an essential policy that keeps rural hospitals operational without burdening taxpayers. But Big Pharma, emboldened by profit margins swollen during the pandemic, has made eliminating this program a top priority. If they succeed, rural hospitals may close, leading to reduced access to care for some of the country’s most vulnerable populations.
In states where Republicans fought for rural access to vital drugs, Trump…
