White House Executive Order to Focus on Modernizing Medicare

President Trump signed an executive order calling for the modernization of Medicare by boosting access to telehealth and innovative therapies, as opposed to Democrats' Medicare for All proposal, reports Roll Call . Domestic Policy Council Director Joe Grogan insisted that "the President . . . is delivering on his promise to lower costs, increase options, improve quality, and give persons control over their health decisions." The order stipulates the inclusion of telehealth in mandates that insurance plans have an adequate number of doctors and other providers, and aims to bolster options for innovative therapies that are usually excluded from Medicare's existing coverage and payment schemes. Easing the regulatory burden for providers is highlighted by Trump's order, and U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Administrator Seema Verma noted prior authorization is a major area of emphasis. The directive also will provide guidance to permit other types of clinicians, like nurse practitioners and physician assistants, to practice at the top of their licenses, mitigating supervision requirements for physicians. Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar said this measure should benefit rural practices, in particular, with a dearth of providers. He will propose a regulation to broaden plan diversity and affordability, while innovative plan structures — such as including options for medical savings accounts and proposing a payment pilot to help beneficiaries save more via supplemental incentives — will be encouraged.