Trump signs order to curb ACA regulations

President Trump Thursday signed a presidential memorandum directing federal agencies to explore options for expanding lower-cost insurance options, allowing employers to give workers money to buy their own coverage and slowing consolidation in the insurance and hospital industries (Source: “Trump’s Order Advances GOP Go-To Ideas To Broaden Insurance Choices, Curb Costs,” Kaiser Health News, Oct. 12, 2017).

President Donald Trump’s action, which will not take effect in time to affect the upcoming open enrollment for coverage in 2018, signals a shift in the administration’s strategy, which relied on Congress to repeal the Affordable Care Act. Trump is now using the force of his executive rule-making authority to implement long-favored GOP policy alternatives.

Critics said that, if implemented, the changes could result in more bare-bones coverage and pull healthier people out of the already struggling insurance markets, leading to higher premiums for those who remain in more-regulated coverage.

The executive order directs many agencies, including the Department of Labor, to consider proposing rules or new guidance to loosen current restrictions on what are called “association health plans” and on selling low-cost, short-term insurance. Such rules could potentially exempt such plans from a number of the requirements of the Affordable Care Act.