Hearing on Modernizing American Health Care: Creating Healthy Options and Better Incentives
House Ways and Means Subcommittee on Health
2025-02-11
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Source: Congress.gov
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The subcommittee come to order. Good afternoon. Thank you to our witnesses for being here today to discuss a crucial issue before us, modernizing American healthcare, creating healthy options and better incentives. Chronic diseases such as cancer and cardiovascular disease are skyrocketing. Six in ten Americans have at least one of the two chronic diseases. According to partnership to fight Diseases, the projected total cost of chronic disease from 2016 to 2030, in terms of Florida anyway, was $3 trillion. These statistics are baffling and troubling, and I'm committed to helping lower the cost on some of these deadly diseases. This nation's chronic disease epidemic is out of control. I, for one, am excited that Mr. Kennedy has put this on an issue at the top of the administration in terms of I'm also very excited to say that this committee is spearheading hearings and markups that will be helpful to lead forward better health results and outcomes of Americans throughout this country. Congresswomen alone will represent McGovern, Evans, and Fitzpatrick into introducing legislation to establish a pilot program through Medicare. to provide medically tailored meals to seniors. I was happy to see that this important initiative was introduced by American Medical Innovation and Investment Act that passed out of this committee. Since the last subcommittee hearing, I had the pleasure of meeting with numerous groups committed to fighting these issues, covering the majority of injured lives at 180 million lives. Employers are one group that can help make a difference in terms of the chronic diseases. In fact, 72 percent of employers saw reduced health costs after starting a wellness program in their own firms.
Last week, Congressman Piniella and I introduced the Chronic Disease Flexibility Coverage Act. This important legislation allows for employers who offer high deductible plans coverage for their employees and the options of including pre-deductible coverage for services that treat chronic illness. At the end of the day, we can be empowered to take charge of our own health through key flexibilities, including health savings account that can make a difference. We have another skyrocketing crisis on our hands, a skyrocketing in terms of diabetics and obesity. Over 45 percent of our nation's adults are obese, and in fact, 20 percent of the kids are. Joint Economic Committee, led by Congressman Swiker, is talking the obesity epidemic seriously. In fact, in a recent report, the committee found that obesity will result in up to $1.9 trillion in excess medical expenditures and cause the federal government to spend $4.1 trillion over the next 10 years. To bring awareness to these issues, Congresswoman Glynne Moore, myself, i've set up a caucus that are going to focus on this i'd like to thank congressman moore for joining me in this critical effort timing congressman smucker also recently launched the baja caucus to focus on supporting americans and living long and healthy lives through access to affordable high care foods which will make a difference. These are just some of the many things, great works we're doing is on a bipartisan basis on this committee. We are about to hear from a great group of folks who are on the front line in terms of employees and their customers. I look forward to working with all my colleagues at this Congress to tackle this epidemic. I'm pleased to recognize the gentleman from Texas, Mr. Doggett, for his opening statement.
You know my respect for you personally and of your interest in this important topic from the subcommittee hearing that you held only a few weeks ago on healthy lifestyles. My concern today is that under this new administration, it is the lifestyle of the very rich and famous that seems to be the only thing of concern. The healthcare agenda that is being pursued outside of this hearing room represents the real skyrocketing crisis in this country. It's one that will leave Americans less healthy, paying even higher prices, and suffering from preventable diseases. Today is not the time for business as usual when nothing usual is happening. As we hold this hearing, Republicans are preparing legislation for this very week to cut care, to cut significantly in health care, to pay for even more tax breaks for the very rich and famous and multinational corporations. Outside the halls of this Congress, the Trump administration continues to deny federal funds to innovative scientific researchers who are developing the miracle cures and cures, treatments and cures that customers need. There is a delay in funds to community health clinics that treat vulnerable children and seniors. We've seen layoffs, hiring freezes, offers to buy out remaining workers, all worsening what was already a health workforce crisis. The conspiracy theorist nominees to lead the health agencies threaten the return of polio, measles and more. Important public health data on topics ranging from youth mental health to vaccinations to contraception are disappearing from federal websites. In a true McCarthy era type fashion, this administration is developing target list of workers to fire and banned words that are being prepared on lists. on supposedly controversial research topics like women, while apparently it's fine to continue research on men.
I would appreciate an explanation for the behavior of the unelected man who is illegally infiltrating and dismantling our government. It turns out that Trump had more than a concept of a plan, as he described it, for health care.
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