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The 2026 Economic Report of the President has been released by the White House. It includes an entire chapter entitled Making America Healthy by Unleashing Competition in Physicians’ Markets, focused on policy principles to increase competition and access to care. The chapter argues that current policy suppresses competition, saying the “myth of healthcare exceptionalism” needs to be refuted. It outlines competition-friendly policies—like telehealth expansion, scope flexibility and AI-enabled care delivery—that could be used to address chronic disease burden, a primary driver of healthcare costs.   The report makes the following key arguments: 

• Chapter 1, titled “the Economic and Fiscal Benefits of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act,” argues H.R.1 will lead to improved financial stability.  

• Non-merit-based hiring practices impose significant costs and reiterates the Administration’s opposition to Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) programs. 

• Hospital employment and consolidation of physicians raises prices without improving outcomes. It also expresses support for reduced regulatory barriers to independent practice and non-hospital-owned care delivery. 

• Restrictions on physician supply (e.g., scope of practice limits, licensing barriers) disproportionately harm rural communities. The report seems to prioritize increasing the number of independent and non-hospital-owned providers, rather than stabilize rural hospitals directly. 

• Technology is critical to increase access to care, particularly in rural communities.  

• Environmental, social and governance (ESG) initiatives hurt economic growth—arguing that investments reduced the U.S. GDP by an average of about 0.07% per year.