Questions. Thank you. Chairman issa, Ranking Members cummings, members of the committee, thank you for an opportunity to be here. Cms strives to be as responsive as possible. I understand that we have already provided over 140,000 pages of documents to this committee. Transparency is important and thats why im pleased to be here today and have the opportunity to answer your questions. We will continue to produce documents. In the almost five years that ive had the privilege to work at cms, my focus has been on how we can best serve our beneficiaries, including seniors on medicare, adults and children on medicaid and chip andenrolli marketplace. I work ro to reduce cost, improve quality in ways that make a difference. Were making real and important progress. As of august 15th this year, we have 7. 3 million americans enrolled in the Health Insurance marketplace coverage. These are individuals who have paid their premiums. We are encouraged by the numbers of consumers who have paid their
Of the team to make those decision, its very difficult as a thirdparty partner participant to make that kind of assessment without the actual knowledge and data. As a former businessman, i would say that a site that couldnt accommodate a few hundred people simultaneously signing on and people waiting for weeks or months, security wasnt the reason that that should not have launched, but i appreciate that youre here on security today. The gentlelady from new york, a place where i. T. Comes first for many of her constituents is recognized for five minutes. Thats true, true of the west coast, too. I just want to note that this is the committees 29th hearing on the Affordable Care act and the sixth on the website. Oh, come on, please. I want to focus on some very positive things. And thats the cost growth is slowing to historic lows and that was one of the huge challenges that we confronted k the whole time that ive been in congress, is the just the whopping cost in health care in our coun
The needs of veterans. I asked previous secretary for how can i help. What tools dont you have to solve this problem with no response sn again, if there is changes in the law and programs that are necessary it encourage loan forgiveness or whatever would help you attract professionals, i would like to be an ally. Heres my scenario of a couple of stories. Lee mann is a veteran. I mentioned him in opening remarks. He had the fortune of the va calling him to tell him he no longer needed to drive four hours to nebraska from kansas to have a colonoscopy. Thats the good news. That suggested that there is change afoot. Thank you. Down the road, about an hour in plainville, kansas, Larry Mcintyre said he drove three hours to wichita to get a cortizone shot in his shoulder. He goes several times a week for other minor procedures. There is a sea bot within 25 miles, but they dont have the capabilities as i understand it of providing cortizone shots. What does exist is a hometown hospital. Rooks
In the marketplace coverage every day through special Enrollment Periods. This is the most recent count of people who have coverage throughout the marketplace. Each month this number will change slightly as consumers transition in and out of coverage, as their life circumstances change. Everything from getting a new job to moving to a new state or becoming eligible for medicaid or medicare. Theres also good news about medicare. Spending for Medicare Beneficiary is growing slower. Than the overall economy. The Medicare Trustees recently projected that the trust fund that finances medicares Hospital Insurance coverage will remain solvent until 2030. Four years beyond what was projected just one year ago. We strife to make Health Care Safer and better. In the last five years weve seen a 9 reduction in harm in hospitals such as decreased Health Care Associated infections. This represents over 500,000 injuries and sections and adverse events avoided. Over 15,000 lives saved and approximatel
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