FR 2021-01858

Executive Order 13997: A General Overview

Executive Order 13997, titled "Improving and Expanding Access to Care and Treatments for COVID-19," was issued to bolster the United States' response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The order lays out several strategies to enhance the nation's healthcare system, accelerate the development of COVID-19 treatments, and ensure equitable access to healthcare services. It involves various government bodies, including the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), the Department of Defense, and the Department of Veterans Affairs, to support these initiatives.

Key Issues and Concerns

Despite its ambitious goals, the executive order presents several notable issues and concerns:

• Lack of Budgetary Details: The order does not provide specific information on the budget required to implement these initiatives. This omission might make it difficult for stakeholders to assess whether the measures are cost-effective or potentially wasteful.

• Absence of Success Metrics: There is no clear metric or benchmark defined for evaluating the success of the proposed initiatives. This lack of measurable goals could complicate efforts to assess the order's impact and effectiveness.

• Vague Language: Terms such as "appropriate steps" and "consider prioritizing" are used throughout the document. Such language could lead to varied interpretations and inconsistent implementation across different departments and agencies.

• Transparency Concerns: The order mentions collaboration with non-governmental partners but does not specify criteria or guidelines for selecting these partners. This lack of detail might raise concerns about favoritism or transparency in partnership selection.

• Coordination Challenges: Involving multiple departments and agencies can lead to complex coordination, potentially causing inefficiencies or delays in executing the order's objectives.

• Equitable Distribution: While the order emphasizes equitable distribution of treatments, it does not provide a clear framework to ensure this equality. That could result in disparities in access to treatments, particularly for underserved communities.

• Evaluation Frequency: The document does not specify the frequency of evaluations for programs such as the COVID-19 Uninsured Program, which is essential for timely assessments and improvements.

Impact on the Public

For the general public, this order could significantly influence access to COVID-19 care and treatments. By accelerating the development of therapies and improving healthcare systems, the order aims to provide better healthcare support during the pandemic. However, the absence of specific guidelines for equity and transparency might lead to unintended disparities in access, affecting certain communities more than others.

Impact on Specific Stakeholders

• Healthcare Providers: The order could provide much-needed support to healthcare workers by increasing facility capacities and offering technical assistance. However, providers may face challenges due to the lack of clear implementation guidelines and coordination complexities.

• Underserved Communities: While the order aims to improve access for all, the vagueness in equitable distribution and partner selection could negatively impact underserved communities that historically face barriers to healthcare.

• Non-Governmental Partners: Organizations willing to collaborate in these efforts could benefit from increased involvement in COVID-19 research and initiatives. Yet the lack of clear criteria for partnership may restrict some organizations from participating.

In conclusion, Executive Order 13997 sets forth an ambitious plan to combat COVID-19 through enhanced healthcare systems and accelerated treatment development. Its successful implementation will depend largely on resolving issues related to budgetary transparency, clear metrics, and equitable access.