Secretary of State Marco Rubio has announced new sanctions on any individuals from Cuba involved in the communist nation’s program to export medical care to other nations, including U.S. adversaries.

“Today, we announce the expansion of an existing Cuba-related visa restriction policy that targets forced labor linked to the Cuban labor export program,” Rubio said in a statement.

Last year, former President Joe Biden’s administration imposed sanctions on third parties in other countries helping to coordinate Cuban work brigades, as reported by The Hill. Rubio’s announcement goes further.

“This expanded policy applies to current or former Cuban government officials, and other individuals, including foreign government officials, who are believed to be responsible for, or involved in, the Cuban labor export program, particularly Cuba’s overseas medical missions.”

Sanctions will apply both to anyone directly involved in the programs exporting medical labor and to members of those individuals’ immediate families.

“The Department has already taken steps to impose visa restrictions on several individuals, including Venezuelans, under this expanded policy,” Rubio said.

The sanctions will likely surprise few, as President Donald Trump has already taken a harsher stance with Cuba than Biden, including reversing a decision by the Democratic administration to remove Cuba from a list of state sponsors of terrorism.

Cuba’s doctor program has long been controversial with South Florida lawmakers, who are upset that the government exports forced labor to provide aid to nations with a hostile relationship to the U.S., like Venezuela.

Rubio, the nation’s first Latino and Cuban American Secretary of State, previously served as Florida’s U.S. Senator and has long maintained a focus on Cuba and Latin American affairs. He said continued misconduct by Cuba warranted the harsher sanctions.

“Cuba continues to profit from the forced labor of its workers and the regime’s abusive and coercive labor practices are well documented,” Rubio said.

“Cuba’s labor export programs, which include the medical missions, enrich the Cuban regime, and in the case of Cuba’s overseas medical missions, deprive ordinary Cubans of the medical care they desperately need in their home country. The United States is committed to countering forced labor practices around the globe. To do so, we must promote accountability not just for Cuban officials responsible for these policies, but also those complicit in the exploitation and forced labor of Cuban workers.”

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Obesity is a growing crisis in America, affecting 93 million citizens and costing the health care system nearly $1.4 trillion annually. If left unaddressed, this burden will only increase, straining and draining taxpayer dollars.

Already, President Donald Trump, with his executive order establishing the Department of Government Efficiency, along with other actions, has demonstrated his dedication to rein in spending on behalf of the American people. By finalizing a CMS rule that allows Medicare to cover anti-obesity medications (AOMs), Trump can also realize savings within the Medicare budget.

Right now, Medicare spends $50 billion annually treating obesity-related diseases, and studies show that covering AOMs could generate $175 billion in savings over the next decade and up to $700 billion over 30 years. Investing in prevention will save taxpayers billions in future health care costs.

While Medicare already covers treatments for other chronic diseases, such as diabetes and high blood pressure – many of which are caused by obesity – obesity itself still is not covered as a chronic disease when it should be.

Further, while many private insurers cover AOMs, Medicare does not, forcing seniors to forgo effective treatment. This also means that when seniors age into Medicare, in many instances, they lose access to these critical treatments they once had through their private insurance.

Moreover, according to the Florida Department of Health, 5 million Floridians are on Medicare. This makes it even more crucial to our state, with its large number of seniors, who could radically improve their health and quality of life if they had access to these medications.

This is an extraordinary opportunity for Trump to lead on health care reform. Finalizing the CMS rule will reduce wasteful spending, empower individuals to take control of their own health, reduce reliance on social safety net programs, and support market-based health care solutions.

It’s time to treat obesity as a chronic disease and have Medicare cover these life-changing AOMs. By taking action now, we can create a healthier, stronger, and more self-reliant population that thrives and saves taxpayers billions.

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Thomas Barnette is the president and CEO of EA Tours.

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