Dr. Price HHS Secretary, MD, testified in front of the Senate Finance Committee and Ways and Means Committee on President Donald Trump’s budget. It is related to HHS and the House-passed American Health Care Act.
Here is a brief of it:
- Medicaid: Dr. Price advocated President Trump’s budget cuts from the Medicaid program. He also pointed out that there may be some overlaps between $610 billion cuts in the president’s budget and the $834 billion in cuts included in the AHCA.
- Opioids: Listing Opioid as one of the top three health challenges currently nation is facing, he discussed a 5 part strategy and an increase in the budget of $50 million. However, Sen.Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio challenged his increase in budget to be conflicting with Medicaid cuts.
- Stabilizing ACA marketplaces: Facing several challenges from Democrats on the administration’s commitment to current law and maintaining the ACA marketplaces until a new plan is in place and other issues Dr. Price said “Nobody is interested in sabotaging the system,” in reference to the market stabilization rule released in April as evidence that administration was committed to a stable transition.
- Cost-sharing reduction subsidies: Senators grilled Dr. Price on the future of the cost-sharing reduction subsidies, authorized by earlier govt. It is facing a lawsuit on grounds of the constitutionality of the payments. Dr. Price cited this lawsuit as a reason why he could not provide more information on it.
- Contraceptive coverage: He didn’t reply directly to the rule that would allow employers not to include birth control in basic health coverage. He said
“I believe women that desire to have access to birth control ought to have access to birth control.”
- Zika: When asked about the budget cuts for NIH from about $31.8 billion to $26 billion, and additional of $1.2 billion in fiscal 2017 how outbreaks like Zika can be countered, he said “We believe the budget accommodates for handling any challenge that may exist from the Zika threat. The proposed budget identifies reductions we believe can be accomplished at NIH … by increasing efficiencies and making certain we have the core mission of NIH accomplished through the resources that are made available.” Mr. Hatch Finance Committee chairman denied any indication on hearing for the proposal when asked by Democratic Sen. Clarie McCaskill of Missouri.
Date: June 13, 2017
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