As with many sectors of our economy, when it comes to health care you should expect a lot of changes from the Trump administration. And, based on Trump’s recent executive orders, millions of Americans could face higher health care and prescription drug costs. Tarena Lofton lays out the latest developments for KFF Health News.
But, Trump’s most consequential health care act is to push Republicans in Congress to drastically cut Medicaid spending in order to pay for massive tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans. Republicans intend to push through these cuts in a reconciliation package to be finalized shortly. Cuts to Medicaid will affect more than 70 million Americans directly and their families and communities indirectly. If you oppose Medicaid cuts, please reach out to your Congressperson and Senators and let them know.
Now, to some of the executive orders:
- Revoked: Trump revoked a Biden administration executive order requiring the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to focus on new ways to lower prescription drug costs, including a Medicare project that would have established a list of drugs with a $2 copay. The bigger question is whether Republicans will try to undo provisions in the Inflation Reduction Act that allow Medicare to negotiate drug prices and set an annual out-of-pocket cap in Medicare Part D at $2,000.
- Revoked: Trump undid a Biden administration executive order that extended the enrollment period for Affordable Care Act health plans, as well as money dedicated to assisting people with enrollment. The bigger question is whether Republicans will end subsidies for people with lower incomes who are insured through the ACA health insurance exchanges. Those subsidies are set to expire at the end of this year.
- Withdrawn: Trump withdrew the US from the World Health Organization. The US had been a large supporter, giving the organization $1.3 billion in 2022 and 2023. WHO focuses on global health. It funds health projects around the world and responds to public health emergencies. Trump says he did not like the way the WHO handled the COVID pandemic. The bigger question is how the US will respond to public health emergencies.
- Unrecognized: Trump ordered the federal government to not recognize transgender and nonbinary identities. He ended federal support of health care delivered to people on the basis of gender identity. This order will likely be challenged in court. The bigger question is whether this order will be reversed in court.
- Expanded: Trump ended a policy that kept immigration officials from arresting people not legally in the US near schools, hospitals and churches.
- Withdrawn: Trump withdrew the US from the Paris Climate Agreement for the second time. The agreement specifically states that this process takes a year, but Trump ordered the immediate withdrawal.
Here’s more from Just Care: