President Trump on January 20, 2017, signed an executive order on "minimizing the economic burden" of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), declaring that it is the policy of his Administration to seek the prompt repeal of the ACA, and that it is imperative in the meantime for the executive branch to ensure it is being effectively implemented and take actions to "minimize the unwarranted economic and regulatory burdens" of the law.

The executive order says the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the heads of all other applicable executive departments and agencies shall exercise authority and discretion 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."

It calls on the HHS Secretary and heads of executive departments and agencies to exercise authority and discretion to provide greater flexibility to States and to "cooperate with them in implementing healthcare programs." It also calls on departments and agencies with responsibilities relating to healthcare or health insurance to "encourage the development of a free and open market in interstate commerce for the offering of healthcare services and health insurance, with the goal of achieving and preserving maximum options for patients and consumers."

The White House also issued a "Regulatory Freeze Pending Review" memorandum outlining steps "to ensure that the President's appointees or designees have the opportunity to review any new or pending regulations."

Both documents are attached.

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ATTACHMENTS

Executive Order

Priebus Memo