Finding Common Ground: Navigating the MAHA Era in Healthcare Public Affairs

2025 is shaping up to be a consequential year for healthcare policy. From prescription drug pricing to artificial intelligence in medicine, the regulatory landscape is shifting quickly and unpredictably. At the center of this transformation is HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and his Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) movement. 

Secretary Kennedy’s MAHA initiative is built on a sweeping vision to prevent chronic disease and overhaul public health by questioning long-standing scientific consensus and targeting the food and pharmaceutical sectors. His willingness to disrupt business as usual is well established and unwavering. 

Despite hopes from some corners of Washington that the Secretary might moderate his tone post-confirmation, that hasn’t been the case. Secretary Kennedy has stayed true to his campaign posture, from renewed calls to investigate vaccine safety to confrontations with industry leaders over chronic disease. To succeed in the MAHA era, industry leaders, advocates, and innovators must adapt by finding common ground on shared public health goals and engaging in patient-centered, preventative health initiatives that reflect the movement’s priorities.  

 Rethinking Engagement 

Given that HHS is moving full steam ahead in carrying out the Secretary’s agenda, what, if anything, can the industry do to find inroads? Rather than positioning themselves as defenders of the status quo, companies and organizations should consider aligning with the broader public health goals that underpin MAHA’s platform. Preventative care, early intervention, mental health support, and community-based health initiatives are all areas ripe for collaboration, even if motivations differ.  

For example, pharmaceutical companies can emphasize their role in preventing disease progression, improving quality of life, and enabling earlier intervention. Health plans and providers can spotlight efforts to expand access to care and promote wellness outside traditional clinical settings.  

Turn Shared Priorities into Shared Progress 

Words are important, but action speaks louder, especially in this moment. That means forging genuine, patient-centric partnerships and activating grassroots collaborations to fund access to nutritious food, support physical activity programs, advocate for expanding telehealth access in underserved communities, or demonstrate tangible alignment with MAHA goals.  

These steps don’t require abandoning core missions but framing solutions in a broader context. Preventative health and innovation are not mutually exclusive. They are most effective when deployed together. Mindsets don’t change overnight, but taking these steps may help position the industry as less of a foe and more of a partner to MAHA. 

A Moment to Lead 

The next chapter in American healthcare will be shaped not just by regulation, but by relationships. The MAHA era presents undeniable challenges, while creating real opportunities to lead. For those willing to stay engaged and find common ground, there’s a chance to shape the national conversation to benefit patients, support communities, and advance meaningful health outcomes. 

Narrative’s healthcare team closely tracks the evolving policy landscape and works with clients to position them for success in this new environment. We believe there is a path forward—and that the healthcare community can help pave it.