Each year, thousands of Americans are diagnosed with life-threatening illnesses and run out of approved treatment options. Some of these patients turn to experimental drugs, treatments that have passed early safety testing but have not completed testing for effectiveness. A new federal law, the Right to Try, gives some of these patients access to unapproved treatments.

As America approaches the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, Everything Policy analysts are exploring what the Founding Fathers might say about the evolution of our political system. In this brief, we consider the topic of Federalism from the viewpoint of Elbridge Gerry, a Massachusetts politician who was a key player at the Constitutional Convention and the ratification debates.

Healthcare in the United States operates as a collection of state-based systems layered on top of federal programs. Where someone lives can shape what insurance they have access to, how much they pay for it, and what care they receive.