Trump signs U.S. healthcare executive orders that may have little impact

By Alexandra Alper, Michael Erman and Steve Holland

 

U.S. President Donald Trump points to the crowd during a campaign rally at Cecil Airport in Jacksonville, Florida, U.S., September 24, 2020. REUTERS/Tom Brenner

 

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump on Thursday signed two executive orders on healthcare for Americans that lawyers said will carry little weight, as the president seeks to boost his flagging credibility with voters on the hot-button issue ahead of the Nov. 3 presidential election.

 

Trump signed the twin orders implementing his "America First Healthcare Plan" in an airport hangar in Charlotte, North Carolina, amid an audience that included medical professionals.

 

"Under my plan 33 million Medicare beneficiaries will soon receive a card in the mail containing $200 that they can use to help pay for prescription drugs," Trump said in describing part of his program.

 

The Trump administration also set out new rules allowing U.S. states and territories to import lower-cost prescription drugs from Canada.

 

Trump said he expected an even deeper reduction in drug prices from an earlier executive order capping Medicare drug prices at the lowest level paid by other rich nations. Drug companies and experts have questioned whether that executive order is practical and can withstand expected legal challenges.

 

One of Thursday's executive orders is aimed at ensuring Americans with pre-existing conditions retain healthcare coverage, Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar told reporters, even as his own administration seeks to end the Affordable Care Act, or Obamacare, which protects the same right.

 

Azar also said Trump was directing him via the second executive order to work with Congress to pass legislation banning surprise healthcare bills by the beginning of next year, and explore executive action if the legislative bid fails.

 

House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi, a Democrat, labeled the effort "bogus," as she called on the president to "drop his lawsuit to overturn the Affordable Care Act in the middle of a pandemic."

 

While Trump heralded his actions, some lawyers expressed skepticism that he had the authority to make the move by executive order.

 

Nicholas Bagley, a professor at University of Michigan's law school, said: "Unless there's a law that prohibits the conduct in question, or unless the president is exercising a power that's been delegated to him by Congress, his statements have no more legal weight than a tweet."

 

"It's as if I was walking around with a memo that was titled 'Executive Order,' and claimed that the policy of the United States is that everybody gets a cheeseburger on Tuesdays," he added.

 

Trump lags Democratic rival and former Vice President Joe Biden in national opinion polls, especially on the question of who would better handle healthcare.

 

The president's action, unveiled less than six weeks before Election Day on Nov. 3, also comes amid long-standing criticisms that he has failed to follow through on promises to propose an alternative to Obamacare even as he works to dismantle that program.

 

Trump also has drawn fire for his administration's response to the deadly coronavirus, which has killed more than 200,000 Americans.

 

In June, the Trump administration asked the U.S. Supreme Court to invalidate the Obamacare law that added millions to the healthcare safety net.

 

The Affordable Care Act, passed in 2010, prohibited health insurers from denying coverage to Americans with known health conditions.

 

Surprise bills occur when patients visit a hospital they believe is in their health insurance network but then are seen by a doctor or specialist who is out of network. Trump previously called on Congress to address the issue in 2019.

 

"What the president is saying is that all the relevant players - hospitals, doctors, insurance companies - had better get their act together, and get legislation passed through Congress that protects patients against surprise medical bills," Azar said.

 

(Reporting by Alexandra Alper in Washington, Michael Erman in New York and Steve Holland in Charlotte; editing by Cynthia Osterman and Lisa Shumaker)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2020-09-25

 

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Canada to Trump "leave our prescription drugs alone. They are for our citizens." Besides that, all this is too little, too late. A new FOX NEWS poll has Biden up by 5% pts in Ohio. If that holds on Election Day you can stick a fork in Trump, he's done.

Edited September 25, 20205 yr by pegman

nothing but a trump nothing burger designed to get votes no more no less what did you expect a healthcare plan lol just window dressing

Edited September 25, 20205 yr by Tug

52 minutes ago, pegman said:

Canada to Trump "leave our prescription drugs alone. They are for our citizens." Besides that, all this is too little, too late. A new FOX NEWS poll has Biden up by 5% pts in Ohio. If that holds on Election Day you can stick a fork in Trump, he's done.

don't count him out until he loses Florida

Trump signs an order to do something, and arguing against it in the supreme court.

I will not believe a word of this until I see it working.

Election propaganda for the gullible stupid US public

Even by his lazy standard, it’s a waste of time signing something that is already in the current ACA. Just when will he reveal his healthcare plan which he promised since his inauguration. 

3 hours ago, Tug said:

nothing but a trump nothing burger designed to get votes no more no less what did you expect a healthcare plan lol just window dressing

Agree and just like everything else about him, these executive orders are about as false as the orange "tan " on his face. 

 

Talk about window dressing.......LOL
 

16 minutes ago, natway09 said:

I will not believe a word of this until I see it working.

Election propaganda for the gullible stupid US public

Fortunately, the only people who will buy into his snake oil lies have already been mentally poisoned by his Kool aid.

too bad he can't be tried for exasperating a public health emergency, many victims and families I'm sure would like to see him be punished severely..   

6 minutes ago, from the home of CC said:

too bad he can't be tried for exasperating a public health emergency, many victims and families I'm sure would like to see him be punished severely..   

exacerbating, but you are spot on about the victims

6 hours ago, webfact said:

Nicholas Bagley, a professor at University of Michigan's law school, said: "Unless there's a law that prohibits the conduct in question, or unless the president is exercising a power that's been delegated to him by Congress, his statements have no more legal weight than a tweet."

 

"It's as if I was walking around with a memo that was titled 'Executive Order,' and claimed that the policy of the United States is that everybody gets a cheeseburger on Tuesdays," he added.

Exactly

6 hours ago, pegman said:

Canada to Trump "leave our prescription drugs alone. They are for our citizens." Besides that, all this is too little, too late. A new FOX NEWS poll has Biden up by 5% pts in Ohio. If that holds on Election Day you can stick a fork in Trump, he's done.

According to Trump the coming election is rigged anyway ...he did not accept the 2016 election result because he did not win the popular vote 

  You wonder if there could possibly be anyone dumb enough to fall for this 'executive order' ridiculous, laughable garbage but, sadly, I guess there are.

3 minutes ago, newnative said:

  You wonder if there could possibly be anyone dumb enough to fall for this 'executive order' ridiculous, laughable garbage but, sadly, I guess there are.

Uh, yeah - millions! That is frightening!!!

$200 dollar credit on prescription drugs.

 

Importation of drugs from Canada at lower prices.

 

Capping Medicare drug prices to lowest prices paid by other rich nations.

 

No matter what Trump does he'll be thoughtlessly and unjustly criticized.  5 minute hate.  For some it's all day every day.  I wish I could take away your pain and help but it's beyond my powers.

Just now, Tippaporn said:

$200 dollar credit on prescription drugs.

 

Importation of drugs from Canada at lower prices.

 

Capping Medicare drug prices to lowest prices paid by other rich nations.

 

No matter what Trump does he'll be thoughtlessly and unjustly criticized.  5 minute hate.  For some it's all day every day.  I wish I could take away your pain and help but it's beyond my powers.

Whether or not these are good things is one question. But unless you believe in the magic power of this document, it actually accomplishes nothing. He's had almost 4 years to come up with proposals for serious legislation. To date, nothing.

Trump lies daily, and yet there are still so many that actually believes his every word.

  If he was even half way moral and had tried his hardest to keep the virus

from affecting America the way that it has, he might get some more votes. 

By November however, there will likely by close to 250 thousand dead Americans,

by January maybe 300 thousand dead.  Good thing there are more than 350

million people in America. Trumps big drug offer may sway some, who cannot

afford to go to clinics or hospitals,  but I am hoping that enough intelligent

Americans send Trump and family back to their old lifestyles in the up coming

election.  Just don't drink his koolaid, or wear those Trumpy rose colored glasses.

Geezer