850 formally submitted comments. In december of 2015, the working Group Released a comprehensive document. In october of last year we issued a legislative discussion draft. Soon after that we finalized four of our policy proposals in its 2017 medicare physician fee schedule rule, and twon provisions from our discussion draft where included in the 21st century cures act which president obama signed into law this past december. In other words, sefrlt working groups policies have already been enacted and were working to get rest signed into law fully implemented. Toward that end, we introduce the latest version of the chronic care act, the bill that encompasses the working groups proposals in april. The legislation currently has 17 bipartisan cosponsors and has been endorsed by numerous organizations in the Healthcare Community. Today, is the latest step in our in our efforts. The next step will come later this week, as weve noticed a markup for thursday morning. I want to thank my collea
Bipartisan working group. To work on legislation to dress these issues. That working group spent many months listening to stakeholders. In october last year we issued a draft. Soon after that, weve finalized a fee schedule role and two provisions from our discussion draft were included in the 21st century cures act which president obama signed into law this past december. Several of the working Group Policies have already been enacted and we are working to get the rest signed into law. Toward that end, we introduced the latest version of the chronic care act, the bill that encompasses the working group puzzles in april. Legislation currently has 17 bipartisan cosponsors and has been endorsed by numerous entities in the health your community. Today is the latest step in our efforts. The next step will come later ais week, as we noticed marked up for thursday morning. I want to thank my colleague, ranking senator wyden for his matter. This his work has been a driving force behind this ef
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
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
Test new models of telehealth without regard to the geographic barriers and some of the other statutory restrictions. We have a number of very interesting telehealth models that are being tested currently including the health link model i mentioned in my testimony. Thank you very much. Senator moran . Mr. Chairman, thank you very much. Thank you for you and senator murray having this hearing. A very important one certainly from a senator from kansas. But really for the country. Let me start with mr. Morris. Tell me what statistics are there that demonstrate over a period of time how many rural hospitals are closing or being in addition to that are threatened to close. Ive seen an ap story just in the last few days indicating that 50 rural hospitals have closed that expectations for more a total of 50 hospitals in the rural u. S. Have closed since 2010 according to the ap. And the pace has been accelerating with more closures in the past two years than the past ten. This is according to