Well call the subcommittee back to order and thank everyone for their forbearance. We have concluded with member Opening Statements. The chair would remind members, pursuant to committee rules, all members Opening Statements will be made part of the record. And we do want to thank our witnesses for being here today, taking time to testify before the subcommittee on this important issue. Each witness will have the opportunity to give an opening statement, followed then by questions from members. Again, previously mentioned our witnesses, but today we will hear from mr. Michael holmes, ceo cook executive Health Services. Jami snyder, and ms. Cindy mann. We appreciate you being here today. Mr. Holmes, you are recognized for five minutes for an opening statement, please. Thank you, chairman burgess, Ranking Member green, members of the subcommittee. My name is mike holmes. Im the ceo of Cook Area Health Services, providing mental, dental, Behavioral Health care, in nine locations to more t
Without their integral involvement. I think from the challenges, the article does that, naming them, talking about them, and trying to understand where theres common ground, theres difficulties figuring out, ultimately with a goal of Getting Services to people who need them, from a Public Health evidence based services to people that need them is the end game we want. And then lastly data, we took a cursory look for today. Id like to do more on that, i think thats critical. Mark . Where you live often changes where you think. Where im located, i dont see the negatives as much as the positives. Were flooded with great opportunities, we cant take in all of them. To see the partnerships that are going on are terrific. So im very positive on this. I think in terms of addressing the challenges, it is the faith communities can be the trip wires for the challenge and the solution at the same time. Weve had conversations with the north american chair of somalia, hes very interested in working
Form in rural and underserved areas. Cms recognizes challenges faced by beneficiaries and providers in rural areas. I look forward to working with hrsa and the congress delivering quality care to Medicare Beneficiaries regardless of their location. Thank you again and im happy to answer your questions. Thank you both. Let me answer a couple of questions and well do fiveminute rounds here. Mr. Morris, the department the budget the administration submitted would have cut your budget by 20 million. Did you ask for that cut . Mr. Chairman, we support the president s budget and the request that came forward. We think it supports the key programs for our office. Includes continued funding for the outreach program, the rural hospital flexibility program. For our policy and Research Activities and we think those are the programs that can be most effective meeting the needs. Where are you going to spend 20 million less than you are spending this year . The president s budget there is a decrease
About the eligibility requirements of the current child nutrition assistance cadre of programs as they exist today . I think the important thing when youre talking about reducing errors and improper payment which is i think we all agree is a very important endeavor is to create a culture where a culture of compliance with the rules. We want the rules to be followed. I dont think the rules themselves are the problem i think its helping people understand them and there are lots of different people involved in the system. Its families when theyre filling out applications, its schools when theyre running programs, its states when theyre administering them. So i think that kind of day in and day out work is whats most important to reduce errors and reduce improper payments in the program. I would second that and also add its important to as a former president once famously stated, its important to not only trust but verify. I would add to that and say its important to trust and verify in a
Early investments in child health and nutrition are crucial. The time period from pregnancy through Early Childhood is one of rapid physical, cognitive emotional and social development and because of this this time period in a childs life can set the stage for a lifetime of good health and success in learning and relationships or it can be a time of toxic stress when physical, mental, and social health and learning are compromised. Micronutrients such as iron and folate have demonstrated effects on Brain Development but are commonly deficient in pregnant women and Young Children in the united states. These deficiency cans lead to delays in attention motor development, poor shortterm memory and lower i. Q. Scores. One of the most Effective Investments congress can make during the prenatal to school age period is to support the special Supplemental Nutrition Program for women, infants and children, or wic and i thank the committee for its strong bipartisan support for wic over the past f