Washington – 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.
Subscribe to our Daily Roundup Email
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.
The White House did not provide further details about the executive order.
Trump’s spokesman Sean Spicer said the White House also directed an immediate regulatory freeze for all government agencies in a memo from Trump’s chief of staff, Reince Priebus. He did not offer details.
Repealing and replacing the Affordable Care Act, one of former President Barack Obama’s signature laws, was a central pledge for Trump during the presidential election campaign. Republicans in the U.S. Congress have not yet laid out a plan to recast the insurance program.
In a hastily arranged ceremony, surrounded by some of his aides, Trump sat behind the presidential Resolute Desk and signed the order. He also signed commissions for his newly confirmed defense secretary, James Mattis, and his homeland security secretary, John Kelly.
Trump spoke briefly about his day with reporters. “It was busy, but good. It was a beautiful day,” he said.
Vice President Mike Pence then swore in Mattis and Kelly in a separate ceremony.
There were other signs of change in the Oval Office, which Obama vacated on Friday morning. Golden drapes hung where crimson ones had earlier in the day and new furniture dotted the room.
Yes please get rid of mental health I know every liberal needs a shrink . But is it really essential ? We have people dying from cancer and mental health is essential ? Don’t forget all these added essentials cost us middle class working people in terms of higher premiums coinsurnce abd co pays and deductibles . Not only are we forced to pay for our own mental health coverage but we also need to cover other pre existing conditions too . And we should eliminate pre existing conditions also . If you want insurance buy when you are healthy . Dint come crying once you got sick . If you are poor then you get Medicaid . But this notion that insurers must accept all pre existing conditions is non sensical . And even a mandate won’t help that . Because you can’t really force healthy to buy . And people just buy the cheapest plan then when sick buy an expensive plan . The anti selection of better plans is so high that us responsible ones have to pay big time for it
Obamacare was made for the low lifes – it increased mine & most of America’s premium of health insurance so that the low lifers can get free insurance.
“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.”
So-called experts *believe* this, but is this mere belief actually the case?
To #1 – you are in need of mental health care if you really believe this nonsense.
So… President Trump (I love the sound of that!) is on the road to dismantling Obamacare. Fantastic start! His next 2 Executive Orders should be full pardons for Rubashkin & Pollard.