HEALTHCARE LIKELY TAKES BACK SEAT IN TRUMP’S STATE OF THE UNION ADDRESS
After a tumultuous year on Capitol Hill – with repeated efforts to repeal the Affordable Care Act and stalled attempts to renew the Children’s Health Insurance Program – President Donald Trump isn’t likely to focus on healthcare policy in his State of the Union address Tuesday night.
White House aides previewing the speech this weekend said its major themes will focus on economic growth, infrastructure, immigration and national security. Except for calling for more funding to combat the opioid crisis or highlighting that the ACA’s individual mandate was repealed in last month’s tax cut legislation, the president isn’t expected to address major healthcare policy.
One of Trump’s guests in the gallery is expected to put a “human face on the opioid crisis and [highlight] the heroes involved in that effort,” according to a White House official previewing the speech this weekend to stakeholders.