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October 10, 2019

Executive Order Seeks to Improve Medicare

On October 3, President Trump signed an executive order that seeks to continue the administration’s efforts “to protect and improve Medicare by building on those aspects of the program that work well, including the market-based approaches in the current system.” Many of the changes outlined in the order, including eliminating requirements of the Medicare program that “limit professionals from practicing at the top of their profession,” require HHS to propose regulations within one year. Other issue areas, such as modifying Medicare fee-for-service payments to more closely reflect the prices paid in Medicare Advantage and the commercial insurance market, require HHS to submit a report to the President within 180 days. The order also includes a focus on adjusting network adequacy requirements, streamlining and encouraging innovation, and “rewarding care through site neutrality.”