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Trump Issues ACA Executive Order

On Friday, shortly after he took the oath of office, President Trump signed an executive order designed to “minimize the economic burden of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act”.

While the President works with Congress to attempt to repeal and replace the ACA, this executive order allows the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services – and other departments – to delay implementing any part of the law that might place a “fiscal burden on any State or a cost, fee, tax, penalty, or regulatory burden on individuals, families, healthcare providers, health insurers, patients, recipients of healthcare services, purchasers of health insurance, or makers of medical devices, products, or medications.” 

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Affordable Housing Insights A Unique Industry Providing Real Solutions for Communities

Over the last several years, I have had the privilege of helping manage the risk of several organizations working to provide affordable housing options for low-income households. This experience has given me great insight into the unique aspects of this complex industry, as well as a passion to advocate for the organizations and individuals working in this space.

The Need for Affordable Housing is Increasing

Today’s demand for rental properties of all types is unprecedented. According to a study by the Joint Center For Housing Studies of Harvard University, 37 percent of all U.S. households are now renters – the highest level since the mid-1960s. The study also reveals that the largest and fastest growing segment of the exploding rental market is comprised of households earning less than $25,000 annually.   And while the number of renter households rose 40 percent from 2003-2013, the number of low-cost rental units increased by just 10 percent. It is clear that the need for more affordable housing is great.

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Top Risk Concerns for Businesses and Individuals

Business leaders and consumers share many common concerns, according to data compiled from the 2016 Travelers Risk Index. The annual survey found that cyber risk is still considered one of the greatest risks facing both Americans and American businesses. And while businesses worry more about the implications of getting hacked, consumers are primarily concerned about personal privacy loss, identity fraud and cyber threats.

Top Business Risk Concerns

Medical cost inflation, increasing employee benefit costs and cyber-related technology risks/data breaches again topped the Travelers Risk Index for business concerns in 2016, although the overall proportion who felt the business environment is becoming more risky declined slightly from 2015 to 2016, from 44 percent to 41 percent. 

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The GOP Plan for the Future of the ACA Repeal ... Delay ... Replace

It appears as though the growing consensus within the GOP leadership is that they need to insert one additional verb into their plans for dealing with the future of the ACA … Delay.

After a meeting with Vice President-elect Mike Pence on Tuesday, it seems that the strategy of a repeal through budget reconciliation in the first 100 days of President-elect Trump’s presidency is still in their plans. However, the replacement isn’t going to come as quickly as some had thought, and many in the GOP might have hoped for. 

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Election Update: Where Do We Go From Here?

The 2016 election results are in.  We all woke up this morning (or stayed up until 3:00 a.m.) to learn that, despite almost all pollsters and pundits predicting otherwise, Donald Trump has been elected to be the 45th President of the United States.  When he takes the oath of office in January, we will also have a Republican-controlled House of Representatives and Senate.  As we outlined previously, this outcome was the only one where we could see real change related to the Affordable Care Act (ACA).

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