President Trump Signs Executive Order to Protect and Improve Medicare

President Trump Signs Executive Order to Protect and Improve Medicare

On October 3, President Trump signed the Executive Order, “Protecting and Improving Medicare for Our Nation’s Seniors.” Through this order, the Administration directs the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS) to expand Medicare Advantage plans to provide more choice for consumers, eliminate burdensome requirements for providers, and reduce expenditures.

Specifically, Sec. 5. (c) of this Executive Order requires that a comprehensive review is conducted to review current regulations that create disparities in reimbursement between physicians and non-physician practitioners, including nurse practitioners. In addition, this section would, to the extent allowed by law, propose regulations that would ensure clinicians, including physicians, physician assistants, and nurse practitioners, are appropriately reimbursed in accordance with services provided rather than the clinician's occupation.

AACN supports eliminating regulations currently harming healthcare delivery by impeding the scope of practice of highly qualified clinicians. See AACN’s most recent federal regulatory comments here.

For more information, read the full Executive Order.