President Trump Signs Executive Order on Healthcare, Pre-existing Conditions

September 25, 2020

During a campaign event yesterday in Charlotte, North Carolina, President Trump signed an executive order on a range of health issues, including protecting people with pre-existing medical conditions, lowering prescription drug costs, increasing consumer choice, and providing greater transparency. The order also directs HHS Secretary Alex Azar to work with Congress to pass legislation to end surprise billing by December 31, 2020, or if that fails, do so through regulation.

In his speech the president highlighted his “Most-Favored-Nation” executive order which directs Medicare to pay no more than what other nations pay for medications – a policy BioUtah believes will harm innovation and limit patient access to new treatments. Trump also announced that Medicare recipients will soon receive a card that they can use to save $200 on medications.

While the executive order notes that the average insurance premium in the individual market more than doubled from 2013 to 2017, with the Affordable Care Act (ACA) in place, the president’s action drew sharp criticism from opponents who point out that Trump’s healthcare “vision” comes a mere 40 days out from an election, and at the same time his administration is taking on the ACA in the courts. The case is scheduled to be argued before the Supreme Court a week after Election Day.