Axios

The executive order President Trump signed Friday night directs the Health and Human Services to give broad flexibility in implementing Obamacare, using sweeping language to suggest exemptions if the law presents a burden of just about any kind.

The key language, according to the text released by the White House: HHS would have to waive anything that would "impose a fiscal burden on any State or a cost, fee, tax, penalty, or regulatory burden on individuals, families, healthcare providers, health insurers, patients, recipients of healthcare services, purchasers of health insurance, or makers of medical devices, products, or medications."

Before hitting inaugural balls, Trump signed an executive order "that directs the departments and the agencies to ease the burden of Obamacare as we transition to repeal and replace,'' spokesman Sean Spicer told reporters. Separately White House Chief of Staff Reince Priebus issued a government-wide order freezing new regulations.

What it means: nothing. A GOP aide said the order is "pretty much a nothingburger." The real action on repeal and replace is still on the Hill.

I'm struck by how many people in D.C. health care circles are predicting the same outcome for the Obamacare repeal battles: Trump and congressional Republicans will end up with a program that's built on the framework of Obamacare, but modified to reflect Republican principles, like:

• More choices of health coverage
• An alternative to the individual mandate
• More flexibility for states to try different approaches

In other words, the repeal will really be a rebranding of Obamacare, and Republicans will have to sell the hell out of it. Always Be Closing!

When Obamacare passed Congress, Democrats tried to balance competing interests and minimize winners and losers. Once it's repealed, Republicans will have to do the same thing.

It's not clear that they can.

They'll try, but unless their replacement covers as many newly insured people as Obamacare, everyone who benefits from more paying customers will be hurt — and hospitals and other health care providers are bracing for the biggest hit.