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We have a new executive order on health care! It's a glorified press release, nothing more -- and one that should be treated as the pathetic document that it is. https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/executive-order-america-first-healthcare-plan/
Section 1 is a lengthy -- and I do mean lengthy -- of all the glorious things that the Trump administration says it's done to improve people's health care. Does it mention the Supreme Court case? You bet it does:
The mendaciousness on display here is kinda breathtaking. Trump says that "access to health insurance despite underlying health conditions should be maintained, even if the Supreme Court invalidates the unconstitutional, and largely harmful, ACA."
BUT HOW?
BUT HOW?
It's the ACA that ... provides access to health insurance despite underlying health conditions. The plans that Trump has supported basically don't. Nor is there *any* prospect of *any* of those plans making it through Congress.
So yeah, section 1 is a joke.
Section 2 announces federal "policy." Here it is in its entirety. You know what legal effect it has?
None.
Zero.
Zilch.
None.
Zero.
Zilch.
I mean, it's also transparently false. The policy of Republicans, as reflected in the plans they've actually put forward, is not to guarantee protections for people with preexisting conditions. But whatever. https://www.nytimes.com/2020/09/24/upshot/pre-existing-conditions.html
So maybe it gets better in section 3?
Nope. Here's section 3, in its entirety.
Nope. Here's section 3, in its entirety.
Choice! Who doesn't like choice? And maybe Secretary Azar can bring us more choices?!? Who knows! We haven't read any of the statutes! IT'S NOT LIKE WE'VE BEEN IN CHARGE FOR FOUR YEARS.
I'm sorry, I'm irritated. This is just so, so dumb.
Section 4 has three different sections. In each one, Trump tells his agencies to think about lowering health-care costs. Because lord knows they probably haven't thought about that before.
You probably think I'm joking. You probably think, "Nah, there's more to it."
Surprise! There isn't. Here's the first of the three sections. It says, "approve generics faster if you can." Good idea! NEVER OCCURRED TO US BEFORE.
Surprise! There isn't. Here's the first of the three sections. It says, "approve generics faster if you can." Good idea! NEVER OCCURRED TO US BEFORE.
The second part of section 4 is about surprise billing, and is a little meatier. But not much. But the third part is my personal favorite:
Fraud, waste, and abuse! EVERYBODY HATES THOSE. Maybe somebody should, y'know, give that some thought? Maybe if they're not too busy shining UV lights into people's internal organs they can check that out?
Oh, and then we get to section 5, which is a transparently exploitative shout out to veterans. But maybe these are different veterans than the veterans whom Trump disparaged as losers? I don't know, hard to say.
Oh, and then we get to section 5, which is a transparently exploitative shout out to veterans. But maybe these are different veterans than the veterans whom Trump disparaged as losers? I don't know, hard to say.
The executive order closes with some boilerplate. And that's it. Literally. THAT IS IT.
This is not an executive order. It's not even an actionable set of instructions. It's a semi-competent web page about health care from a second-tier Republican mayoral candidate.
This is not an executive order. It's not even an actionable set of instructions. It's a semi-competent web page about health care from a second-tier Republican mayoral candidate.
I know I sound unhinged. But here's what worries me: health care is complicated. Really complicated. Most people don't understand it.
This executive order is a deliberate, mendacious effort to confuse the electorate before the election.
This executive order is a deliberate, mendacious effort to confuse the electorate before the election.
It shouldn't be reported as a serious document. It should be reported as government propaganda, nothing more or less.
My fear is that it won't be. My fear is that press outlets will report that President Trump has issued an executive order protecting people with preexisting conditions.
Don't be that press outlet! PLEASE.
Don't be that press outlet! PLEASE.
I will go now. I need a drink. /fin
