ExecutiveOrdersEO
EO 13941Executive OrderTrump 45 · R

Executive Order 13941

Improving Rural Health and Telehealth Access

This executive order directs HHS to create a new rural healthcare payment model, develop infrastructure strategies, and report on rural health initiatives within 30 days. It also requires HHS to review and propose regulations within 60 days to extend COVID-19 telehealth and provider flexibilities for rural Medicare beneficiaries beyond the public health emergency.

Federal Register Open PDF 85 FR 47881

Impact dates

  1. HHS Secretary proposes regulations to extend PHE telehealth and provider flexibilities

  2. HHS Secretary announces new rural payment model

  3. HHS and Agriculture Secretaries develop rural infrastructure strategy

  4. HHS Secretary submits rural health policy report to President

Key directives

  • HHS Secretary to announce new section 1115A payment model for rural providers within 30 days
  • HHS and Agriculture Secretaries to develop and implement rural physical and communications infrastructure strategy within 30 days
  • HHS Secretary to submit report on rural health policy initiatives to President within 30 days
  • HHS Secretary to review temporary PHE measures and propose regulations to extend telehealth and rural provider flexibilities beyond PHE within 60 days

Who is ordered

Timeline

Immediate

  • EO signing and publication

Near term (90d)

  • HHS Secretary announces new rural payment model (Sec. 2)
  • HHS and Agriculture Secretaries develop infrastructure strategy (Sec. 3)
  • HHS Secretary submits rural health policy report to President (Sec. 4)
  • HHS Secretary reviews PHE flexibilities and proposes regulations to extend telehealth and provider flexibilities (Sec. 5)

Long term

  • Potential permanent expansion of telehealth services for rural Medicare beneficiaries
  • Implementation of new rural healthcare payment model under section 1115A of Social Security Act
  • Possible rural hospital sustainability improvements through value-based care and predictable payments

Risks & tensions

  • All actions subject to 'availability of appropriations' — funding not guaranteed
  • EO explicitly does not create enforceable rights; implementation depends on agency discretion
  • Section 1115A models require CMS Innovation Center authority and can be modified or terminated by subsequent administrations
  • Telehealth extension beyond PHE requires regulatory change that may face legal or political obstacles
  • Vague on specific metrics for 'predictable financial payments' or 'value-based care' — success depends on model design
  • Coordination between HHS, Agriculture, and FCC may create bureaucratic delays
Executive Order 13941: Improving Rural Health and Telehealth Access · Executive Orders