Signs of Change: First in a Series

Sol Garcia | THE RIDER

Since his first days in office, President Joe Biden has begun issuing executive orders and memorandums regarding COVID-19, health care, the environment, immigration and more. 

The following are related to COVID-19 and health care, according to the White House’s official website. 

COVID-19

In efforts to address the COVID-19 pandemic, Biden has issued several executive orders, including instructing federal agencies to prioritize actions that will provide the “greatest relief” to individuals, families, small businesses and governments, such as state or tribal. 

Biden’s executive orders and actions regarding COVID-19 include:

–creating a coordinator position to organize the COVID-19 response

–creating a task force dedicated to mitigating health inequities caused or furthered by COVID-19

–creating a COVID-19 testing board to expand testing access and supplies

–requiring Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines, such as using masks, to be enforced in federal buildings or on lands

–issuing a sustainable public health supply chain, such as reviewing the availability of pandemic response supplies, including personal protective equipment

–directing federal agencies to gather necessary information on safely reopening schools, higher education institutions and child care programs

–directing the Occupational Safety and Health Administration to revise COVID-19 guidance for employers on workplace safety.

“All of those … are very much in the right step for helping people to remain protected while they are serving the public, whether they are medical professionals or other essential workers,” said Natasha Altema McNeely, a political science associate professor at UTRGV.

Health care

On Jan. 28. Biden issued an executive order that expands access to Medicaid and the Affordable Care Act to those who are underinsured or uninsured, said McNeely, whose specializations include health policy. 

“[It] would prevent people with pre-existing conditions from being denied care and then also protecting existing coverage that people get,” she said. 

In a memorandum, Biden also rescinded the Mexico City Policy, which prohibits nongovernmental organizations from receiving U.S. funding for abortion services. 

While various states have attempted to defund organizations that offer abortion services, those institutions also provide other services, meaning this executive action is important for women’s health, McNeely said.   

“This memorandum is attempting to remove those bans or barriers, if you will, in order to allow women to regain access to that type of health care,” she said.