Trump signs US health care executive orders that may have little impact
- Trump signed the twin orders implementing his ‘America First Health Care Plan’ in North Carolina to an audience that included medical professionals
- The Trump administration also set out new rules allowing US states and territories to import lower-cost prescription drugs from Canada
Trump signed the twin orders implementing his “America First Health Care Plan” in an airport hangar in Charlotte, North Carolina, to an audience that included medical professionals.
“Under my plan, 33 million Medicare beneficiaries will soon receive a card in the mail containing US$200 that they can use to help pay for prescription drugs,” Trump said in describing part of his programme.
Trump said he expected an even deeper reduction in drug prices from an earlier executive order capping Medicare drug prices at the lowest level paid by other rich nations. Drug companies and experts have questioned whether that executive order is practical and can withstand expected legal challenges.
One of Thursday’s executive orders is aimed at ensuring Americans with pre-existing conditions retain health care coverage, Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar told reporters, even as his own administration seeks to end the Affordable Care Act, or Obamacare, which protects the same right.
Azar also said Trump was directing him via the second executive order to work with Congress to pass legislation banning surprise health care bills by the beginning of next year, and explore executive action if the legislative bid fails.