President Donald Trump directed government agencies on
Friday to freeze regulations and take steps to weaken Obamacare, using his
first hours in the White House to make good on a campaign promise to start
dismantling his predecessor's healthcare law.
Heading into the Oval Office shortly after the
conclusion of his inaugural parade, Trump signed an order on the Affordable
Care Act that urged government departments to "waive, defer, grant
exemptions from, or delay the implementation" of provisions that imposed
fiscal burdens on states, companies or individuals.
It also called for efforts to give states greater
flexibility in implementing healthcare programs while developing "a free
and open market in interstate commerce for the offering of healthcare services
and health insurance."
Health experts had speculated that Trump could expand
exemptions from the so-called individual mandate, which requires Americans to
carry insurance or face a penalty, or the requirement that employers offer
coverage.
Experts also believe the administration could try to
reduce the “essential benefits,” such as maternity care and mental health
services, that insurance plans must cover.
No comments:
Post a Comment