The Moral and Economic Consequences of Trump’s Medicaid Drug Policy Repeal
President Donald Trump’s recent decision to rescind President Joe Biden’s 2022 Executive Order 14087 marks a significant policy setback and moral failure. This executive order aimed to reduce prescription drug costs for Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries, particularly those suffering from chronic conditions. Its cancellation has sparked outrage and concern among healthcare advocates and policy makers.
A Crisis in Prescription Medications
The impact of this decision is palpable in communities across the United States. In Cleveland, hospitals face daily challenges as patients struggle to afford essential medications. Cleveland Clinic data show that 11% of Americans skip doses of heart medications due to cost. This is echoed by a study from the Kaiser Family Foundation, indicating that 31% of U.S. adults delay or forgo medications due to high prices. Disproportionate numbers of Black and Hispanic adults—61% and 69%, respectively—face these challenges, compared to 50% of white adults.
For a city renowned for its medical excellence, the inability to provide affordable health care is particularly distressing. Patients must make devastating choices: ration insulin, cut doses of heart medications, or avoid prescriptions altogether. These decisions can have severe, sometimes irreversible, health consequences. In a society that prides itself on innovation and progress, this crisis highlights the urgent need for reform.
The Terminated Programs: An Essential Safety Net
The programs affected by the executive order’s rescission, including the Medicare $2 Drug List Model, Cell and Gene Therapy Access Model, and Accelerating Clinical Evidence Model, were designed to address these issues. Over 40 external stakeholders evaluated these initiatives, finding them promising in terms of improving affordability and equity in healthcare. Their取消 without a clear replacement strategy has compromised the well-being of millions.
This abrupt move towards eliminating these policies without a transparent or comprehensive plan is fundamentally unjust. The administration’s decision not only undermines the health and financial stability of vulnerable populations but also strains the broader healthcare system. Delaying or forgoing medications often leads to increased emergency room visits and hospital admissions, driving up healthcare costs.
The Ethical Implications
The Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. once said, “Of all the forms of inequality, injustice in health care is the most shocking and inhumane.” This quote underscores the profound ethical concerns surrounding Trump’s decision. These initiatives may not have been flawless, but their removal leaves millions at risk of preventable suffering.
Physicians are bound by an oath to “do no harm.” Trump’s actions, by denying millions access to necessary medications, violate this principle. Ethically speaking, a just society must protect the most vulnerable, not expose them to financial and health hardships.
Economic Considerations
Beyond ethics, the decision is economically shortsighted. Preventive care is crucial in reducing long-term healthcare costs. It helps manage chronic conditions effectively, thus preventing expensive emergency interventions. Removing these programs not only burdens individual patients but also strains public and private healthcare systems.
The loss of these programs undermines Cleveland’s legacy of medical innovation. While the city boasts world-class care, its residents face stark disparities in accessing these services. Celebrating medical excellence is meaningless if residents suffer due to inability to afford basic treatment. It raises a critical question: if these interim solutions are rescinded, what plans are in place to ensure that innovative, affordable therapies reach vulnerable communities?
Call for Bipartisan Solutions
Healthcare should not be a privilege for the wealthy. It is a fundamental right for all citizens. Policies must reflect this principle. We urge policy makers to reconsider Trump’s decision and seek bipartisan solutions that prioritize affordability, innovation, and dignity.
Better healthcare solutions are essential not just for Cleveland but for the nation as a whole. The administration must provide clear, transparent plans to ensure that essential medications remain accessible to those who need them most.
Dr. Fawad Taj, a board-certified psychiatrist, leads the Association of Physicians of Pakistani Descent of North America in Northeast Ohio (APPNA-NEO).Courtesy of Dr. Fawad Taj
The Future of Healthcare
The healthcare landscape should not punish the most vulnerable among us. It should strive to protect and empower all citizens. The administration must demonstrate a commitment to improving healthcare accessibility and affordability. Bipartisan efforts are crucial to addressing this critical issue.
We call on healthcare professionals, patients, advocates, and policymakers to demand better solutions. The future of healthcare depends on our collective action today. The burden should not be on patients to navigate a system that fails them; instead, it is the responsibility of policy makers to create a system that prioritizes health and well-being.
Zain Anwar, a senior at University School, is a Youth Ambassador on U.S. Rep. Shontel Brown’s Youth Advisory Council.Courtesy of Zain Anwar
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