(CNN)President Joe Biden is wasting no time establishing his vision for the Affordable Care Act and reversing many Trump-era measures aimed at weakening it.
In his first two months in office, Biden has taken several steps to bolster the landmark health reform law, which marks its 11th anniversary on Tuesday, and to embed it even more firmly in the nation’s health care system. Former President Barack Obama is scheduled to speak Monday about how the Affordable Care Act has benefited Americans and how the Democrats’ $1.9 trillion relief package, which Biden signed into law earlier this month, has strengthened the law.
Aided by the stimulus package, the Biden administration is making these moves even before its top health officials are in place. Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra was only confirmed on Thursday, while the President’s pick to run the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, Chiquita Brooks-LaSure, has yet to go before the Senate.
And these efforts come as the administration is also focused on ramping up the battle against Covid-19 and getting more Americans vaccinated.
Just over a week into his term, Biden signed an executive order directing federal agencies to re-examine a multitude of actions taken by former President Donald Trump, including policies that make it more difficult to enroll in Medicaid and the Affordable Care Act and that reduce affordability or financial assistance.
Biden also signed a presidential memorandum in late January to reverse restrictions on abortion access domestically and abroad imposed and expanded by Trump officials.
“The Biden administration is seizing the moment and taking steps to improve access during the pandemic but also setting the groundwork for other ways to continue to strengthen and protect both Medicaid and the ACA,” said Allison Orris, a partner at Manatt Health, a professional services firm, and former Obama administration official.
These moves, however, were easy wins for Biden.
It will be much more difficult for him to enact his other major health care campaign promises, including creating a government-run public option to compete with private insurers, lowering the age to buy Medicare coverage to 60 and reducing drug prices. These mainly require the support of Congress, where Democrats hold only slim majorities in both houses — and some in the party are still pushing for more dramatic changes, including enacting “Medicare for All.”
Source: Biden moves rapidly to shore up Obamacare and erase Trump’s changes
