I think we better get it going. The committee will come to order. To this mornings hearing. Today, the committee will consider the nomination of alex to servee in the as the secretary of health and Human Services. I would like to welcome him this morning. I want to thank them for being here. Thisillingness to serve in capacity, as well. He has his work cut out for them. Health and Human Services is a massive, Sprawling Department that oversees trillions of dollars in spending and liabilities, encompassing all areas of our Nations Health care system. Confirmed, his decisions will impact the lives of every single american. Knowledge, experience, and most importantly, strong leadership. Our nominee brings all of this to the table after nearly do decades of experience after nearly two decades of experience. Hhs, mr. Azare at played key roles in implementing policies, including the Medicare Advantage program. He was also a leader in hhss response to the anthrax attacks shortly after 9 11, t
The Senate Committee on Health Education and pensions will come to order. Today we are looking at effect on children and infants. We have a vote i believe at 11 30 today so we should i believe give us time to have a full discussion with our witnesses. Before we turn to todays focus i wanted to say that later today senator murray and i and senators young will introduce legislation to help address the Opioid Crisis. Dr. Collins, head of the National Institute of health predicted that nonaddictive pain killer can be introduced. Our bill would give more flexibility to conduct research. The Committee Plans to hold a markup on the bill as well as other legislation to address the Opioid Crisis as soon as march. Senator murray and i will each have an Opening Statement and introduce witnesses. After their testimony will have a round of fiveminute questions from the senators. The Opioid Crisis is particularly heartbreaking for families and children. No one understands that more than jesse who lo
Consumers. So it means that many consumers are paying very little to get very affordable coverage. We have 120,000 people paying less than 10 a month in bronze plans. 70 of those that have subsidies are picking a silver plan. Many of those in the cost sharing subsidy where in california at the highest cost sharing subsidy, an outpatient visit is 3 a bus ride. Theres no deductible. This is not the story across the nation. If you look an we did looking at colorado and miami, instead of having seven products like we have in l. A. , in denver they have 35 different silver products. In miami 35 and some of those products that are the cheapest premiums mean you dont get any care unless you satisfied a 3,000 deductible. Thats not good for consumers. I think its the right thing for consumers. Let me quickly note about getting access to care. We have some very early indicators that are very positive in california. There is a lot of discussion about narrow networks. Id note that virtually all of
Oversee the second largest Government Agency department. What is your management style, approach to this job . A might approach is getting mandate from the president and the country to get this organization back on track. What it really is, is to make sure this can take care of our countries veterans. The hurricane, when i look back the andthe history, decades of problems that havent been dealt with the solutions were difficult to make by severalff administrations. Now there is a natural progression of these problems developing. Clearly, you cant go back and change things. If you could, what would you change . Not putting a hard decisions. When there are problems developing, organizations outside of government are taking modernizing, government cant keep its head in the sand and fall behind. These are Management Issues that i think have been important to us, and now we will tackle them head on. Do you consider yourself first and foremost a doctor . Absolutely. I still see patients, but
Solutions were difficulto make up pushed off by several administratis. Now theris natural progression of these problems developing. Clearly, you cant go back and change things. If you could, what wou you change . Not putting a hard decision when there are problems developing, organizaons outside of government are taking solutions and mornizing, government cant keep its head in the sand and fall behind. These are Management Issues th i think have been important to us, and w we will tackle them head on. Do you conser yourself first and foremost a doctor . Absolutely. I still see paents, but that is who i am. I approachhe job primarily as a physician, secony as a manager. Wyatt dr. . Is about helping people why a doctor . Its a way of helping people. You can help many re people in a much broader way, so i consider my management career though, as an extension ofhat i have been doing is a physician. First nonmilitary person to hold this potion. What do you bring to the job . I bring my expe