Fact Sheet: President Donald J. Trump Calls on Congress to Enact The Great Healthcare Plan

1/15/2026

Fact Sheets

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Action Summary

Purpose: Enact the Great Healthcare Plan to lower healthcare costs for all Americans by addressing drug pricing, insurance premiums, industry accountability, and price transparency.
Lowering Drug Prices:
- Codifies Most-Favored-Nation deals to secure lower prescription drug prices similar to those in other countries.
- Builds on historic actions, including making insulin more affordable and negotiating voluntary deals with HHS/CMS.
- Expands access to verified safe pharmaceutical drugs over the counter to reduce costs and improve consumer choice.
Lowering Insurance Premiums:
- Redirects billions in extra taxpayer-funded subsidies directly to eligible Americans, reducing premiums.
- Implements a cost-sharing reduction program expected to save taxpayers at least $36 billion and cut common Obamacare premiums by over 10%.
- Ends kickbacks from pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) that contribute to higher insurance costs.
Holding Big Insurance Companies Accountable:
- Introduces a “Plain English” insurance standard requiring companies to present rate and coverage comparisons in non-technical language.
- Mandates transparency by requiring companies to post key metrics such as profit margins, claims rejection percentages, and wait times for routine care.
Maximizing Price Transparency:
- Requires healthcare providers and insurers accepting Medicare or Medicaid to display their pricing and fee information prominently.
- Reestablishes accountability and empowers patients with clear, upfront pricing information.
Delivering on Prior Healthcare Promises:
- Builds on previous executive actions aimed at lowering drug prices and improving healthcare pricing transparency.
- Leverages past executive orders and initiatives, including securing pharmaceutical deals and enforcing price transparency rules for hospitals and insurers.
- Ties in with broader efforts made during the Trump administration to expand access to health savings accounts and reduce healthcare fraud.

Risks & Considerations

The Great Healthcare Plan’s focus on lowering drug prices and insurance premiums may create a more competitive healthcare landscape, which could influence Vanderbilt University’s Medical Center’s pricing strategies and negotiations with insurers.
Increased price transparency requirements could necessitate operational changes at Vanderbilt Medical Center to comply with new regulations, impacting administrative processes and potentially requiring additional resources for compliance.
Shifts in insurance dynamics and patient preferences due to direct subsidies to Americans may alter patient demographics and payer mix at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, affecting revenue streams and service demand.
The emphasis on holding big insurance companies accountable and the introduction of the “Plain English” insurance standard could lead to changes in how Vanderbilt’s health plans are communicated to patients, requiring updates to communication strategies and materials.

Impacted Programs

Vanderbilt University Medical Center may need to adapt to new pricing transparency regulations and prepare for increased scrutiny in pricing practices and insurance negotiations.
Vanderbilt University School of Medicine might experience increased demand for education and training related to healthcare compliance, policy, and administration, presenting opportunities for curriculum development and partnerships.
The Department of Health Policy could see increased opportunities for research and analysis on healthcare pricing, insurance reforms, and the impact of these changes on healthcare delivery systems.
Vanderbilt’s Financial Aid Office may need to reassess financial aid packages and healthcare benefits provided to students, incorporating potential changes in healthcare costs and insurance options.

Financial Impact

Changes in federal healthcare funding and the redirection of subsidies could impact Vanderbilt Medical Center’s financial planning and budgeting, necessitating adjustments in financial strategies.
The focus on transparency and accountability could lead to administrative cost increases as new compliance measures are implemented, impacting the overall financial outlook for the medical center.
There may be new opportunities for funding related to healthcare policy research and reforms, aligning with the university’s commitment to academic excellence and innovation.
Potential shifts in patient mix and insurance coverage could influence revenue models, requiring strategic financial planning to mitigate risks and leverage new opportunities.

Relevance Score: 4 (The plan presents a need for significant strategic adaptations and compliance changes for Vanderbilt University Medical Center and associated programs.)

Key Actions

Vanderbilt Medical Center should evaluate and adapt its pricing strategies to align with new price transparency requirements. Ensuring compliance with these regulations will enhance patient trust and competitiveness.
The Office of Federal Relations should monitor developments in drug pricing negotiations and insurance premium adjustments to identify potential changes in funding opportunities and financial impacts on healthcare programs.
Vanderbilt’s School of Nursing should explore initiatives that leverage increased over-the-counter drug availability to enhance patient care and education, potentially developing new community outreach programs focused on self-care and medication management.
The Department of Health Policy should conduct research on the implications of the Great Healthcare Plan for healthcare access and equity, with the findings informing advocacy and policy recommendations at both state and federal levels.
Vanderbilt’s Economic Research Institute should assess the economic impact of reduced insurance premiums and direct subsidies on the local healthcare market, providing insights that could guide strategic planning and investment decisions.

Opportunities

The emphasis on price transparency presents an opportunity for Vanderbilt’s Business School to develop educational programs focused on healthcare finance, equipping future leaders with the skills to navigate and innovate within a more transparent market environment.
By aligning with federal initiatives to hold insurance companies accountable, Vanderbilt can position itself as a leader in healthcare reform advocacy, potentially influencing policy through research collaborations and public discourse.
Vanderbilt’s Division of Public Affairs can capitalize on the increased focus on healthcare cost reduction by engaging in campaigns that highlight the university’s commitment to affordable healthcare and transparency, enhancing its public profile.
With the administration’s focus on empowering patients with clear information, Vanderbilt’s Information Technology services have an opportunity to develop cutting-edge digital tools that provide patients with easy access to pricing and healthcare information.
The plan’s focus on rural healthcare investment aligns with Vanderbilt’s commitment to community health, providing a chance to expand rural health initiatives and partnerships in underserved areas.

Relevance Score: 4 (The executive order necessitates significant process changes at Vanderbilt, particularly within its healthcare operations, to comply with new transparency and pricing regulations.)

Average Relevance Score: 3

Timeline for Implementation

N/A

No explicit deadlines or target durations for the implementation of the directives were mentioned in the content; it only describes the plan and references to past executive actions.

Relevance Score: 1

Impacted Government Organizations

United States Congress: The plan calls on Congress to enact comprehensive legislation to lower healthcare costs, directly impacting the legislative branch’s role in healthcare reform.
Department of Health and Human Services (HHS): HHS is implicated through its involvement in negotiating drug prices and ensuring compliance with healthcare initiatives.
Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS): CMS is specifically mentioned as accelerating enforcement of price transparency requirements and building on previous regulatory actions.
Congressional Budget Office (CBO): The CBO plays a role in assessing the economic impact of the healthcare cost-sharing reduction program outlined in the plan.

Relevance Score: 2 (A small number of Federal Agencies are impacted by the order.)

Responsible Officials

Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) – Tasked with overseeing cost-reduction measures and coordinating the voluntary negotiations with pharmaceutical manufacturers as outlined in the healthcare directives.
Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) – Responsible for enforcing price transparency rules, managing grandfathered voluntary deals, and ensuring that healthcare providers and insurers comply with Medicare/Medicaid pricing directives.

Relevance Score: 4 (Directives affect agency heads with significant implementation and enforcement responsibilities.)