Trump reverses Biden’s policies expanding Obamacare
President Donald Trump wasted no time in the Oval Office, swiftly rolling back healthcare policies put forth by his predecessor, former President Joe Biden. One of the first actions Trump took was to revoke Biden’s executive orders aimed at expanding access to the Affordable Care Act (ACA), also known as “ObamaCare.”
Democrats were quick to condemn Trump’s move, calling it an “attack” on the federal health insurance program. The Democratic National Committee accused Trump of prioritizing “ripping away affordable health care coverage for tens of millions of Americans” and jeopardizing coverage for people with preexisting conditions.
Biden’s executive orders, which Trump rescinded, included efforts to double the open enrollment period for uninsured Americans to apply for the ACA, as well as directing federal agencies to implement policies to increase coverage under the program. Trump’s reversal of these orders signaled a shift in healthcare policy from the previous administration.
In addition to revoking Biden’s ACA expansion efforts, Trump also rescinded an executive order that directed Medicare and Medicaid to explore ways to lower drug costs. This move came amidst a broader effort by the Trump administration to roll back various healthcare policies put in place by the Biden administration.
While Trump’s actions raised concerns among Democrats, a health policy expert from Vanderbilt University suggested that the impact on healthcare costs may be minimal. Dr. Stacie Dusetzina noted that changes in administrations often result in reversals of policies, but may not have a significant impact on healthcare costs for Americans.
Overall, Trump’s swift actions in the Oval Office signaled a shift in healthcare policy, with a focus on undoing the work of the previous administration. As the new administration settles in, the future of healthcare policy in America remains uncertain.
