Blumenthal Applauds President Biden's Health Care Executive Actions
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] – U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) applauded President Joe Biden’s executive actions on reproductive health and health care access:
“President Biden is delivering on his central pledge to restore and strengthen access to health care. After four years of attacks aimed at restricting and denying health care access, today’s actions mean Americans can finally begin to breathe a sigh of relief.”
“I applaud President Biden for his steadfast commitment to safeguarding reproductive health care access for Americans and people around the world. Draconian policies to restrict reproductive health care and deny access to abortions are devastatingly harmful to those most vulnerable. By rescinding the harmful Mexico City Policy—a vindictive global gag rule that strips non-profit organizations offering abortion counseling from receiving U.S. funding—President Biden is supporting comprehensive reproductive health care for women and girls globally.”
“President Biden recognizes the precarious state the American people are in due to the COVID-19 pandemic. By reopening ACA Marketplace enrollment to those who need insurance because of the pandemic, strengthening Medicaid coverage, and building on ACA protections, more Americans will be able to have greater peace of mind about their health care.”
“Now Congress must act without delay to codify these health care protections into law and to improve the health care system to make it more affordable for everyone. Without Congressional action, access to reproductive health and abortion, and health care access as a whole, remain at risk or out of reach for far too many Americans.”
Today, President Biden took several executive actions focused on safeguarding reproductive health care access and meet the health care needs of Americans during the COVID-19 pandemic:
Safeguarding Reproductive Health: President Biden issued a Presidential Memorandum to protect and expand access to comprehensive reproductive health care. The memorandum rescinds the global gag rule, also known as the Mexico City Policy, which bars international non-profits that provide abortion counseling or referrals from receiving U.S. funding. The memorandum also directs the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to immediately consider whether to rescind regulations under its Title X family planning program, which stripped funding from abortion providers under a Trump administration rule.
Opening a Special Enrollment Period for Americans Affected by the Pandemic: President Biden signed an Executive Order that will have HHS open the federal health care marketplace HealthCare.gov for a “Special Enrollment Period,” from February 15-May 15, 2021. This opening will give Americans in need of health care coverage during the pandemic the opportunity to sign up.
Strengthening Affordable Care Act Protections: President Biden signed an Executive Order that directs agencies to examine policies that undermine protections for people with pre-existing conditions, including complications related to COVID-19. Agencies are also instructed to examine policies that may reduce coverage under the ACA, those that undermine the Health Insurance Marketplace or other markets for health insurance, those that make it more difficult to enroll in the ACA, and those that reduce affordability of coverage or financial assistance, including for dependents. Agencies are also instructed to consider whether to take additional actions to strengthen and protect access to health care.
Supporting Medicaid Coverage: President Biden signed an Executive Order that directs agencies to examine demonstrations and waivers under Medicaid and ACA that may reduce coverage or undermine the programs, including work requirements. Agencies are also instructed to examine policies that make it more difficult to enroll in Medicaid.
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