President Trump's ACA Executive Order

No, the ACA isn’t repealed – – that will take an act of Congress and, one would hope, a suitable replacement  – – but President Donald Trump did sign an executive order hours after taking office that greases the wheels toward a repeal scenario:

“To the maximum extent permitted by law, the Secretary of Health and Human Services (Secretary) and the heads of all other executive departments and agencies (agencies) with authorities and responsibilities under the Act shall exercise all authority and discretion available to them to waive, defer, grant exemptions from, or delay the implementation of any provision or requirement of the Act that would impose a fiscal burden on any State or a cost, fee, tax, penalty, or regulatory burden on individuals, families, healthcare providers, health insurers, patients, recipients of healthcare services, purchasers of health insurance, or makers of medical devices, products, or medications.”

So, the executive order states that the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and other agencies have authority to stop enforcing Affordable Care Act provisions that impose financial burdens on healthcare stakeholders — including providers, payers, and patients.

RevCycle Intelligence has some thoughts about the impact of the executive order — which is tough to nail down, because, for instance, the order does not specify which provisions can be waived or removed. Will healthcare payments be impacted?

Stay tuned …