In this episode, our hosts break down the executive actions taken during the early days of President Trump's second administration. They discuss the wave of executive orders impacting health care, including changes to the Affordable Care Act (ACA), prescription drug pricing, and federal health agency communications. Our hosts also explore what these changes mean for patients and what to expect in the coming months.
Among the highlights in this episode:
00:49: Steven Newmark, Chief of Policy at GHLF, notes that 23 executive orders have been signed so far, with a significant number impacting health care policy
01:27: Zoe Rothblatt, Director of Community Outreach at GHLF, explains the difference between executive orders, general statements, and legislation, clarifying what executive orders can and cannot do in shaping policy
02:08: Steven defines executive orders, explaining that they carry the force of law but cannot override congressional legislation or violate the Constitution
03:54: Zoe discusses the rescinding of a Biden-era executive order aimed at lowering prescription drug costs, highlighting the uncertainty about future drug pricing policies
05:10: Zoe reassures that key provisions of the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), such as the $35 insulin cap and Medicare drug price negotiations, remain in effect
06:20: Steven explains how Trump’s reversal of Biden-era Affordable Care Act (ACA)-related executive orders removes provisions that expanded eligibility, particularly for families
07:09: Zoe highlights that expanded ACA enrollment under Biden led to 24 million sign-ups, and that reversing these policies could impact future enrollment
08:38: Steven discusses the administration’s directive to pause external communications from federal health agencies, including the CDC, FDA, and NIH
09:06: Zoe explains that such pauses aren’t unprecedented during government transitions
10:21: Steven questions the rationale behind pausing all health-related communications rather than maintaining continuity while reassessing policies
11:47: Steven addresses the removal of federal guidance on diversity in clinical trials, which could impact efforts to ensure equitable research representation
12:41: Zoe highlights how removing diversity-focused resources could discourage participation from historically marginalized groups in medical research
13:18: Steven explains the importance of diversity in clinical trials beyond symbolism, emphasizing its role in ensuring effective treatments for all populations
14:04: Zoe notes that additional resources, such as Spanish-language content and LGBTQ+ health materials, have also been removed from federal websites
14:27: Steven signals that there are more major health care policy changes ahead, including the U.S. withdrawing from the World Health Organization
15:11: Zoe encourages listeners to get involved in advocacy efforts through GHLF’s 50-State Network
Join GHLF’s 50 State Network, share your story, and get involved in advocacy to make a difference, email us at advocacy@ghlf.org
Contact Our Hosts
Steven Newmark, Chief of Policy at GHLF: snewmark@ghlf.org
Zoe Rothblatt, Director of Community Outreach at GHLF: zrothblatt@ghlf.org
A podcast episode produced by Ben Blanc, Associate Director, Digital Production and Engagement at GHLF.
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