Pollution cleanup insurance not needed, says Trump administration

Pollution cleanup insurance - Toxic waste

The federal government said power plants, chemical manufacturers, and others don’t need coverage. The outgoing Trump administration has drawn fresh criticism from environmentalists after having announced that pollution cleanup insurance was not required for chemical manufacturers, power plants, or oil and gas producers. These facilities will not require coverage to pay for the cost of cleaning toxic waste and chemical spills. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced that it was finalizing a rule having to do with financial assurance or pollution cleanup insurance requirements. This decided what – if any…

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Six states and DC sue Trump administration over abortion insurance coverage mandate

Abortion insurance coverage - gavel - lawsuit

Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser called the separate billing policy an administrative nightmare. Six states and the District of Columbia have sued the Trump administration over an abortion insurance coverage billing mandate. This regulation requires insurers to submit a second, separate invoice for reproductive health care. The US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) policy became effective last Tuesday. The new HHS mandate applies to states that permit insurers on their individual exchanges to sell reproductive health and abortion insurance coverage. The lawsuit is led by California and was…

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Federal judge denies Trump’s push to block immigration visas without proof of health insurance

Proof of health insurance - Lady Justice

Judge Michael Simon in Oregon ruled against the administration’s demand for coverage confirmation. A federal judge in Oregon has ruled against the Trump administration’s requirement for legal immigrants to show proof of health insurance in order to receive a State Department visa. The judge determined that the requirement would conflict with the Immigration and Nationality Act. According to Judge Michael Simon’s ruling, “the President’s Proclamation requiring legal immigrants to show proof of health insurance before being issued a visa by the State Department is inconsistent with the INA.” This is…

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Trump steps back from Obamacare overhaul until after the 2020 election

Donald Trump Obamacare overhaul

The president backed away from his previous insistence for a vote on an Affordable Care Act replacement. Last week, President Donald Trump withdrew from his prior push for an Obamacare overhaul vote. He had been seeking a vote toward a replacement for the Affordable Care Act. Trump changed directions, deciding to hold off his efforts against the ACA until after the 2020 elections. Trump’s move away from the Obamacare overhaul vote was a recognition of the current political situation. It has become clear that health care replacement legislation would not…

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Trump’s attempt to roll back birth control mandate quashed by judge

Birth Control Mandate - Birth Control Pills

A federal judge has ruled to block a set of new regulations put forward by the Trump administration. The recent attempt the Trump administration has made to block the birth control mandate in the Affordable Care Act has been halted for the moment. A federal judge in Pennsylvania has paused the ability for the efforts to move forward. The Trump administration had been seeking to roll back the birth control mandate. This would make it harder for women to obtain no cost birth control if their employers state that they…

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