
First 100 Days: Top Healthcare Changes Under the Trump Administration
Saturday marks the 100th day of Donald Trump’s presidency, and closes out the time period during which a president’s power and influence are supposed to be greatest. As a result, the first 100 days are used to measure the successes and accomplishments of a new president.
Saturday marks the 100th day of Donald Trump’s presidency, and ends the time period during which a president’s power and influence are supposed to be greatest. As a result, the first 100 days are used to measure the successes and accomplishments of a new president.
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During Trump’s first 100 days, some significant changes took place that will impact healthcare in the United States.
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Healthcare Appointments
Some of President Trump’s biggest wins came from his appointments. Despite opposition from Democrats, Trump put in place Tom Price, MD, as HHS Secretary, and Seema Verma, as CMS administrator.
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Price was previously a congressman, and during his tenure as representative for Georgia’s 6th congressional district, he was vocal about his
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Verma had previously been a consultant and one of the most important entries on her resume was the
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While Scott Gottlieb, MD, has not yet been confirmed as the next FDA commissioner, he has
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The AHCA and Changes to the ACA
Keeping his campaign promise, on hisÂ
Early on, the House GOP leadershipÂ
“Obamacare is rapidly collapsing,” House Speaker Paul Ryan (R-Wisconsin)
Although a vote on the AHCA could not be eked out within the first 100 days, a lot of work has been done to set the stage for health reform. The proposed bill was ultimately pulled from the House floor without a vote, but the AHCA has been given new life with a string of amendments to make moderates and conservatives more willing to vote for it.
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State Waivers
With a new administration in control, CMS is now more willing to work with states and provide waivers. More states will be looking to add work requirements to the Medicaid program, and Florida is already
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Wisconsin is
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Gorsuch to the Supreme Court
After days of contentious hearings and a vote that was so close the Senate had to get rid of the filibuster for Supreme Court nominees,
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Gorsuch has the potential to have an impact on healthcare through the cases that make it to the Supreme Court. The way Gorsuch ruled in previous cases on the 10th US Circuit Court of Appeals indicates that he believes strongly in religious freedom and sanctity of life.
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Previous writing indicate he is against assisted suicide and he ruled in Burwell v Hobby Lobby that companies should not be required to provide insurance coverage for contraceptives, which is a requirement under the Affordable Care Act.
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Bundled Payment Delay
A new cardiac bundled payment program from CMS and an expansion to its joint replacement program were supposed to take effect in 2017, but the agency will likely
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The first hint of the delay came during a presentation by Kate Goodrich, MD, MPH, director of the Center of Standards and Quality and chief medical officer at CMS, at the 66th Scientific Session of the American College of Cardiology. During her talk, she mentioned “some retrofitting” of the cardiac payment bundle, but little else about a potential delay.
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It is likely no coincidence that his move happened under Price’s rule at HHS, since he is against many mandatory programs and would likely want to move to more voluntary ones.
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