7 reactions to Trump's healthcare executive order

President Donald Trump signed an executive order Thursday morning that seeks to loosen regulations on association health plans.

Here is how seven healthcare organizations reacted to the order.

Note: This article will be updated as more commentary becomes available. 

Alliance of Community Health Plans: Ceci Connolly, president and CEO of ACHP, said the executive order does not provide the certainty needed to stabilize the health insurance market:

"Instead, it would draw younger and healthier people away from the exchanges and drive additional plans out of the market. In turn, premiums would continue to increase, threatening the security of affordable coverage for millions of working families. We must address the flaws in our system, but we should do so without jeopardizing coverage gains, pushing up costs or creating chaos in the market."

America's Health Insurance Plans: Kristine Grow, senior vice president of communications of one of the health insurance industry's largest trade groups, echoed the sentiment that insurance market stabilization is crucial:

"We will follow these principles — competition, choice, patient protections and market stability — as we evaluate the potential impact of this executive order and the rules that will follow. We look forward to engaging in the rulemaking process to help lower premiums and improve access for all Americans."

American Hospital Association: Tom Nickels, executive vice president of the AHA, said the executive order could have devastating effects on insurance markets:

"Today's executive order will allow health insurance plans that cover fewer benefits and offer fewer consumer protections. No one can predict future health care needs with complete certainty and such plans could put patients at risk when care is needed most. In addition, these provisions could destabilize the individual and small group markets, leaving millions of Americans who need comprehensive coverage to manage chronic and other pre-existing conditions, as well as protection against unforeseen illness and injury, without affordable options."

American Nurses Association: Pamela F. Cipriano, PhD, RN, president of the ANA, came out in opposition to the executive order, arguing it is bad for both patients and insurance markets:

"This is an all-out assault on the consumer protections gained under the Affordable Care Act, creating sub-par health care for some and higher costs for others: Patients could be sold insurance plans that do not cover essential health services, like contraception, mental health care, and addiction treatment; patients with pre-existing conditions may not be able to afford coverage and the health care markets could be destabilized, leaving consumers with fewer — if any — options for affordable, quality health coverage. ANA denounces today’s action, which sabotages Americans' health care."

Beth Israel Deaconess Care Organization: Jeffrey Hulburt, president and CEO of the Boston-based ACO, said the executive order would greatly destabilize insurance markets:

"We are thoroughly disappointed that after the American people's voices were heard and Congress decided not to undo all of the critical progress made under the Affordable Care Act, President Trump has decided to continue threatening this progress instead of supporting efforts toward bi-partisan legislation that would fix ongoing issues in the health care system. The Executive Order signed today by President Trump threatens the ability for countless Americans — especially those most in need of quality health care — to secure it at a reasonable cost, and with all of the benefits they truly need."

Council for Affordable Health Coverage: The CAHC, a coalition of employers, insurers, patient groups and physician organizations, is in favor of the executive order.

"We are pleased that the Trump Administration's executive order will include needed reforms to strengthen HRAs and ease access to stopgap policies some consumers depend on when between jobs," said CAHC President Joel White. "This executive order creates an opportunity to fix these challenges, and we look forward to working with the Administration to ensure these changes benefit consumers and businesses through lower health costs and more affordable health coverage."

Society of Actuaries: Dave Dillon, a member of the SOA, predicts the executive order will divide the insurance market into two pools — one for healthy patients and one for the sick:

"The executive order offers more choices to consumers in terms of coverage options, with healthier consumers likely being able to enroll in plans with lower insurance rates. However, more medically complex consumers may be subject to significant rate increases. Overall, the proposal has potential to bring increased instability and volatility to the health insurance markets by separating the market into two smaller pools, and increases the likelihood of insolvency risks for association health plans, which will also likely contribute to market instability."

 

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