Trump Thinks He Just Blew Up Obamacare With the Stroke of the Pen. Did He?

By STEVE FINDLAY If you had illusions, or hopes, that the “Kill Obamacare” reality show starring Donald Trump would settle down to a dull roar, events of the last few days should blow those illusions out of the water. You’ve heard the news by now and I won’t repeat it here.   In addition to your favorite media outlets, see this analysis by ACA legal expert Tim Jost. Trump has been true to his word and his warnings of the last few months—that if Congress didn’t repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act he’d resort to regulatory and executive branch action. The words of the day (Friday, Oct. 13) are “sabotage” and “spiteful.” And I agree. But I’ll be curious to hear THCB readers’ views on these extraordinary actions by the President. Bear in mind that every independent analysis of the elimination of the CSR (cost-sharing reduction) payments and reviving long-dead association health plans indicates: Both will significantly undermine the stability of the exchanges—by eroding the participation of insurers, the affordability of coverage and enrollment. Association health plans will siphon off the young and health and people at low risk, undermine coverage standards, and serve consumers poorly as they have in the past. (Notably, though, the rebirth of association health plans is not imminent. Trump’s executive order requires the Labor Dept., HHS and others to issue new rules, which could take up to a year). The elimination of the CSR payments will ...
Source: The Health Care Blog - Category: Consumer Health News Authors: Tags: Uncategorized Source Type: blogs