Some descriptive statements may seem political when they are, in fact, merely stubborn truths. Such is the case with the fact that the contemporary Republican party, at least on the federal level, lacks both the ideas and the will to improve American health care. To be sure, Republicans take positions all the time that will dramatically impact Americans’ health, and in important ways. But those impacts are ancillary, mere collateral damage in wars being waged in the other policy domains, such as concerned with taxes and guns.

Let’s be clear about the present situation. In 2016, the Republican party lined […]