Medical industry reaction to President Trump's second term

On Wednesday, Republican candidate and former President Donald Trump was elected for a second time to the nation's highest office, reintroducing an administration that has brought significant disruption to the U.S. health care industry.

President Trump's first term, from 2016 to 2020, was marked by efforts to chip away at key tenets of the Affordable Care Act, roll back Medicaid, and deregulate the health care industry.

Trump has been vague about his health policy goals during the campaign, with polls showing issues such as the economy and immigration that lag health care among voters. But experts say his second term promises to be similar, but with a wiser and more ambitious political machine behind him.

“The focus on health care will likely be similar to President Trump's first term, but it will happen sooner and more It will go far.”

It is unlikely that President Trump will try to repeal the ACA, which is widely popular among Americans. But the Obama administration could move to cut costs stemming from Obama-era legislation, such as by allowing more generous subsidies for ACA exchange plans that expire next year. Experts say that while that would save taxpayers money, it would also cause the U.S. uninsured rate to skyrocket due to record increases in insurance coverage under President Biden.

Incoming Vice President J.D. Vance has also laid out a plan to allow insurers to stratify patients based on health status, which could reduce costs for healthy people but lower costs for older people. This could lead to sharp increases in spending for people with severe health conditions and those with chronic health conditions. Under the Trump administration, HHS could also reintroduce weak short-term health insurance and other non-ACA-compliant benefits that were rolled back during the Biden administration.

As for Medicaid, the massive safety net program that covers about 80 million Americans, President Trump was largely silent during the campaign. However, the president-elect has announced plans to allow states to reduce Medicaid eligibility through work requirements, tie coverage eligibility to hours worked or volunteering in a controversial program, and cap program funding through block grants. There is a possibility that the guidelines allowing people to do things may be reinstated.

President Trump has also promised to give vaccine skeptic Robert F. Kennedy Jr. more freedom to pursue his “Make America Healthy Again” agenda for public health reform, which includes It could bring sweeping changes to the Drug Administration and other federal agencies.

President Kennedy told NPR that he would work to remove fluoride from America's drinking water, rolling back the greatest public health effort of the 20th century.

Meanwhile, President Trump has promised not to sign a nationwide abortion ban, but could turn to the FDA to make access to abortion procedures more difficult. That could include revised guidance to allow abortion pills to be sent by mail. President Trump also promised to eliminate gender-affirming health care for transgender people.

Experts say that with the support of a new Republican Senate and a Republican House of Representatives, Mr. Trump will use a clean slate in his second term to pursue conservative health care policies that will bring significant benefits to payers, doctors and patients. It is said that it may have an impact.

Major hospital industry trade groups congratulated President Trump on his victory and reiterated their priorities for lawmakers in Washington.

The insurance group remained silent. AHIP, the largest lobby group representing payers, told Healthcare Dive it had no statement to share. Other groups, such as the Alliance for Community Health Plans, which represents nonprofit insurers, did not issue public statements about the election, but posted blogs outlining the incoming administration's priorities.

But shares of some of the biggest U.S. insurance companies rose on news of Trump's victory, indicating Wall Street believes the Trump administration could be friendlier than the Biden administration. . Under the Biden administration, regulators have taken steps to curb profiteering in federal programs, particularly Medicare.

The Better Medicare Alliance, an association of insurers in the privatized Medicare Advantage program, said it “looks forward to partnering with the Trump administration” to ensure “adequate funding and smart policy” in Massachusetts. “

Representing pharmacy benefit managers, drug intermediaries that have been frequently maligned by federal regulators in the Biden administration, and telehealth companies that President Trump has allowed into Medicare during the coronavirus pandemic. The organization also sent its congratulations to the incoming administration.

The American Medical Association, the national lobby group representing doctors, did not respond to requests for comment and does not have a statement on its website about the election.

Here's how some of the industry's most influential trade groups reacted to the news of Trump's victory.

American Hospital Association

“The AHA and America’s hospitals and health systems congratulate President-elect Trump and work with him and the incoming administration to ensure that the health care sector and the patients and communities we proudly serve face the challenges we face.” I look forward to moving forward on the many important issues facing the United States and congratulate our new and returning members on both sides of the aisle.

As we enter the final weeks of this Congress, our priorities for the next Congress remain the same. These are: ensuring coverage and access to care, improving quality and affordability of care, supporting caregivers, and securing hospitals and health. The system has the resources and support it needs to remain the foundation of our community. ”

important hospitals in america

“We are working with the new administration and Congress to strengthen health care for all by protecting Medicaid and other programs that help working families and others stay healthy and productive. We are ready to cooperate.

The economic security that comes with good health and affordable health care access is essential to strong economies and healthy communities. In addition, our hospitals provide life-saving services to the entire community, including trauma and burn treatment, transplant services, and behavioral health. Essential hospitals are economic engines and often the region's largest employers.

We appreciate President-elect Trump's commitment to uniting for the benefit of all Americans. We are also committed to working with all stakeholders to preserve and strengthen the essential role of hospitals in our communities. ”

American Hospital Federation

“FAH congratulates President-elect Donald Trump and looks forward to working with him, his administration, and the new Congress to ensure all Americans have the health care they need and deserve. life-saving care is vitally important to the American people, and we want to ensure that every We will partner to ensure Americans get the hospital care they need in their communities.There are many important issues at stake for patients across the country when it comes to health insurance coverage and protections for Medicare beneficiaries in managed care. , we look forward to working together on patient care.”

Pharmaceutical Care Management Association

“PCMA congratulates President-elect Donald Trump, Vice President-elect J.D. Vance, and the newly elected members of Congress on their victory in the 2024 election.

America’s Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBMs) look forward to working with the Trump Administration and members of Congress on both sides of the aisle in the 119th Congress to make prescription drugs more affordable for all Americans. .

To advance drug affordability, policymakers must start by addressing the prices set by pharmaceutical companies and abuses of the patent system that inhibit market-based competition. Promoting increased competition while protecting important employer choice and flexibility will lead to lower prescription drug costs. We stand ready to partner with federal and state policymakers to serve America's patients. ”

Better Medicare Alliance

“President-elect Donald Trump and Vice President-elect J.D. Vance understand that protecting Medicare, including Medicare Advantage, is a top priority for seniors. I congratulate them and look forward to working with their administration and the new Congress.

Medicare Advantage provides affordable, high-quality health care to approximately 34 million seniors and people with disabilities. With more than half of Medicare beneficiaries now choosing Medicare Advantage, it is important to continue to ensure stability for older adults with adequate funding and smart policies. ”

American Telemedicine Association

“President-elect Trump and his administration have been strong supporters of telehealth during their first White House stay, allowing immediate and appropriate access to virtual care services during the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic. It has created important policy flexibility, and we are grateful for that.”

We look forward to working with the Trump Administration to ensure that all Americans continue to have access to the care they need and that telehealth services become a permanent part of our nation's health care delivery.

We also want to thank the Biden-Harris Administration for its unwavering support for telehealth over the past four years. We sincerely hope that Congressional leaders on both sides of the aisle move quickly to advance legislation that expands telehealth flexibility and send it to President Biden's desk for signature before the end of the year. The urgency to extend these flexibilities cannot be underestimated to avoid disruption of necessary and often life-saving care for millions of patients. ”

Alliance for Connected Care

“There are few issues as bipartisan as access to health care through technology. The Alliance worked with the first Trump administration to enable remote monitoring and telehealth in the face of a global pandemic, and worked with the incoming administration and Congress to We look forward to finally enacting permanent access to telehealth into law.”