Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Trump 'Affirms' Preexisting Condition Protections Enacted By Obamacare
The Hill: Trump Signs Largely Symbolic Pre-Existing Conditions Order Amid Lawsuit
President Trump on Thursday signed a largely symbolic executive order aimed at protecting people with pre-existing conditions as he takes fire for a lawsuit seeking to overturn ObamaCare, which enacted those protections. “The historic action I am taking today includes the first-ever executive order to affirm it is the official policy of the United States government to protect patients with pre-existing conditions,” Trump said during a speech in North Carolina, a key swing state. “So we're making that official.” (Sullivan, 9/24)
The Washington Post: After Years Of Promising His Own Health Care Plan, Trump Settles For Rebranding Rather Than Repealing Obamacare
President Trump capped his fruitless four-year journey to abolish and replace the Affordable Care Act by signing an executive order Thursday that aims to enshrine the law’s most popular feature while pivoting away from a broader effort to overhaul the nation’s health insurance system. The order declares it is the policy of the United States for people with preexisting health conditions to be protected, avoiding the thorny details of how to ensure such protections without either leaving the ACA, or Obamacare, in place or crafting new comprehensive legislation. (Olorunnipa, 9/24)
AP: Trump Promotes Health Care 'Vision' But Gaps Remain
Trump spoke at an airport hangar in swing-state North Carolina to a crowd that included white-coated, mask-wearing health care workers. He stood on a podium in front of a blue background emblazoned with “America First Healthcare Plan.” His latest health care pitch won accolades from administration officials and political supporters but failed to impress others. (Alonso-Zaldivar and Colvin, 9/25)
NBC News: Trump Signs EOs On Health Care, But Does Little To Change Existing Legislation
"My plan expands affordable insurance options, reduces the cost of prescription drugs, ends surprise medical billing, increases fairness through price transparency, streamlines bureaucracy, accelerates innovation, strongly protects Medicare, and always protects patients with pre-existing conditions," Trump claimed, speaking in Charlotte, North Carolina, on Thursday afternoon. (Egan and Vakil, 9/24)
Modern Healthcare: Trump Issues Preexisting Condition, Surprise Billing Order With Little Enforcement
Trump has faced criticism from Democrats for advocating that the entire Affordable Care Act be struck down in court, including the law's protections for people with preexisting conditions. Trump timed the orders with a speech to outline his healthcare vision, which highlighted existing policy priorities and did not offer a plan to replace the Affordable Care Act. A Supreme Court vacancy created by the late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg has cast new urgency on the possibility that the ACA will be struck down, as the Supreme Court will hear a case on the issue a week after Election Day. (Cohrs, 9/24)
The Democrats respond —
The Hill: Pelosi Slams Trump Executive Order On Pre-Existing Conditions: It 'Isn't Worth The Paper It's Signed On'
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) on Thursday took aim at an executive order from President Trump which he has claimed will ensure coverage for people with pre-existing conditions.“ President Trump’s bogus executive order on pre-existing conditions isn’t worth the paper it’s signed on. It is an insult to every family with someone with a pre-existing condition that President Trump thinks he can get away with this farce while he races a justice onto the Supreme Court to strike down the lifesaving protections enshrined into law by the Affordable Care Act,” Pelosi said in a statement. (Budryk, 9/24)
