Transcripts For CSPAN2 HHS Nominee Representative Tom Price

CSPAN2 HHS Nominee Representative Tom Price Testifies At Confirmation Hearing February 9, 2017

[inaudible conversations] [inaudible conversations] [inaudible conversations] [inaudible conversations] [inaudible conversations] [inaudible conversations] [inaudible conversations] [inaudible conversations] and. A leg to welcome everyone to do this mornings hearing for tom price to be the next department of health and Human Services. With his willingness to serve in this magnitude with obamacare was pushed through republicans in congress was warned the new Health Care Law would harm patients and families not to put too fine a point on it but the next hhs secretary as we work to repeal obamacare replacing with patients under reforms this is an important endeavor this should not be the sole purpose of the next hhs secretary. Having an annual budget of 1 trillion. I will be pete that. Blood department 1 trillion this centers for Disease Control and prevention is no exaggerations to say to affect the daily life in any other parts of u. S. Government. Dr. Price has the experience and qualifications necessary and many people share that view with the tremendous amount of experience in the practice of medicine and for example, to strongly support the nomination including the American Medical Association enthusiastically support him the American Hospital association is perhaps the health care their ship cancel said it best that it is difficult to imagine anyone more capable than congressmen tom price unfortunately with the clinical environment that does seem to matter to some of the colleagues. Some seem to talk about whether he is qualified but inside instead looking at his ethics on top of that we have heard complaints of the unreasonable demands from back confirmation process. But my democratic friends had taken in this approach to all cabinet nominees to delay the process with that standard is continued unabated. I have been in the senate 40 years and to reach beyond any reasonable dispute. I have done that with by fellow democrats on this committee. And on some occasions i have voted against confirming executive branch nominees but far more often than not i have often to defer to the occupants of the of whitehouse. I have taken some lumps for that. I raise all of this today i am more in what my colleagues are doing to the senate as an institution. I of not seen this partisan rancor i have never see a party in the senate publicly commit to virtually every nomination attacking every single comedy. I am not suggesting the senate start were bursting or she voted against their conscience but what i am saying is the same rules and courtesy m process and should continue regardless of who is president and return the white house changes hands quite frankly is a much lesser institution the committee has not been entirely immune to the nomination process and resaw that last week and we are likely to see more of that today. Case in point that is being rushed to be fully vetted. And to dr. Price submitted uh tax returns on September September 21st and by any reasonable standard that is sufficient time for fall and examination and by comparison and 16 days after she submitted her paperwork it was 17 days. The time between completion was more than that. More than that of the last zero and both of them with that extraordinary process to face of unfair attacks as day legislator and his finances and his questions that by and large from distorted attacks. From those that generally have applied in the past. And all of the attempts to have what is characterized dr. Prices use as outside of the mainstream and of course, and those with the status quo on health care. With those distortions of the records is a relatively new development that we can set a new standard to reverse recent trends in level turn to the distinguished Ranking Member and with health care from the new id ministration cuts of medicare and medicaid nobody hurt by the repeal and insurance for everybody. And to undercut these promises. I will start with undisclosed assets. Congressmen price owns stock in an australian biomedical firm that is called the new notes therapeutics his first purchase came in 2015 after consulting the companys top shareholder and a member in 2016 was invited to participate in the special stock sale the Company Offer the private placement to offer funds for testing on experimental treatment for fda approval and through this placement the increased his stake more than 500 and has said he is aware he paid of price below market it is hard to see if the claim passes the small test smell test specifically this private placement would be made below market places to be offered only to sophisticated investors in a nonpublic manner and also with the stock part when negative purchase himself and then the of matter that was omitted from the notoriety is disclosures and they state more than five times larger than the figure he reported to ethics officials when he became the nominee. Did at the time the disclosure was filed by my calculations the shares have a value of more than to the under 50,000 and today to hundred 50,000 now is more 1 million and now it is excluded from his Financial Disclosure and his fortunes could be affected directly with the treatys coming before the congress. It also appears the congressmen failed to consult the house ethics committee. That was required as theyre directly related to the two bills. To be made aware of them with the house of representatives to satisfied the legal issues it is hard to see this as anything but a conflict of interest and abuse of position mother they have been investigated for ethics violations in this also was not disclosed to look into those matters bin now on policy with the Affordable Care act specifically with the sacred replacement plan they already charge ahead endangers Americans Health congressman price is the architect if they lose their health care and less than two years but raise in less than 50 in two years. No cost contraceptive coverage for millions of women. Nearly 400,000 women would lose access. To see the price plan to take america back to the dark days with the healthy and wealthy with Great Health Care and the congressmans proposal and the congressmen and brings back discrimination and to raise cost and then in effect to take patience monday and then skip out of the care that they need. To reinstate lifetime limits on coverage and then charge higher rates because they are women. Two of minimum standards by defining exactly what health plans have to cover all of this from a bill called the powering patients and here is the constant and another example. And with the promise of guaranteed and to advocate privatizing with half a trillion dollars after the nomination he wanted to replace with vouchers. So seniors beyond what medicare pays when they go to the doctor. For seniors on the tight budget. To block grant and cap medicaid and medicaid in shares 54 Million People or americans rely and medicaid to pay for nursing home care in the pace for nearly half of all birthing care covers millions of childrens with Mental Health coverage and substanceabuse treatment as they are battling the opioid epidemic. I will close its two additional points. If confirmed the head of the hhs is the captain of the Trump Health Care team and the congressman says i agree with that but when i look to congressmens proposals idol see the patient at the center of health care. Ic money and special interest at the center of health care. Finally let me make a point with respect to the process. It is exactly the same process that this committee has used for 20 years applied to talk negative show, and ron kirk inventor specific details and to the record how this process is exactly what was done on a bipartisan basis. The q mr. Chairman. Senator a place for introduction would be the distinguished senator from georgia senator isakson so please proceed. Hq chairman and vicechairman and members of the Committee William proud to be a part of this economic be prouder. This is the second time i have introduced tamper good firsttime it was to the Health Committee that also serve above was proud to do that that was the best introduction i give based on the man i have known 30 years family man, member of our community and a legislator. But since last week things have changed and i feel like i am the character witnesses this simpson felony trial. And i think things need to be refuted subtle chide to begin to say things that need a perspective i am very proud he has filed his income tax returns and what came from those that came out in the memo about property taxes one only tax payment in tennessee and washington. Just late. I have done that myself a couple of times with the evaluation differences normal that doesnt matter what u. S. S. At at it is what you disclose of this wirth not whether not you disclose it. He is a good man and a family band i am proud to be here today not to defend him feed is not the defending big praise him for what he has done. With the secretary of defense what am i looking forward from him . First and foremost, he is a great family man. In just to be in National Industrial tennessee but could not be here today. He is active in his church and Committee Community and secondly i not have 1. 1 trillion that is how much she will oversee at hhs a look for somebody with experience he has said as a legislator and he is the type of person and some of their would trust with that amount of money if that were mine. This you understand health care parks, me tell you about his medical practice a consolidation of a number of small orthopedic firms largest provider in our state when a leading persons but the rand the practice for a while they saved my sons right leg in a terrible accident they are a great medical firm he and a stance medicine balls without legislative process to say you go to the senate and house we dont want someone to walk into a legislative meeting that has not been the process is a type of guy you can trust and someone who is accountable to say he is one of the are rare ones that when i have got question i will talk to tom in say what do you know, . He will tell me. Sometimes it is boring but he is always right. Be responsible for what you do and say. Let me tell you waste tory i was called by aarp go on the road for us to do presentations around the state you will say Social Security. We went unspent whole night with a roomful of seniors defending saving Social Security if anybody is passing that rumor and then ask aarp. He understands the value of medicare and i would not promote somebody he would take that away from you. For years ago i sat in this committee i ask all that i could put it came time to vote for her i did the tissue was the right person at the right time. Dr. Price is the right man that the right time for the right job. He is my friend and i have known him 30 years unquestioned character by i think you for taking michaels the their urge you to give him the courtesy of your time and a hope you see fit to dominate inaugural ball billion for the next secretary of health and Human Services. Few could it have a better introduction than senator isaacson not only highly respected but he is very articulate and did a very good job aho what negative about you and your teacher and this committee. I have some obligatory questions for the nominee. First is there anything you are aware of . That would prevent you to fill this irresponsibility . With any reasonable sum in this for appear before congress if you are confirmed . Du promise to give a prompt response in writing any questions that are submitted to you by this committee quick. I do. Those are the obligatory questions. Before we go to the questions the left the plan have a tendency to stay with everyone to state for the and just to engage in discussion for allard great nation and. Banks to Donny Isaacson for his incredibly gracious introduction. We have known each other 30 years and i am so grateful for his friendship and kindness and his leadership and service the we are blessed to have had it. Especially my wife of 33 years to joins me today with her support, encouragement and love she has given me the past 33 years i am more grateful for that. I hadnt met for the appreciation and to share that passion. Seventeen nominated to serve as the knicks secretary of hhs. My first professional calling was to care for patients as dave legislator with complex interactions taking place every single day and i hope to share with you hell my experience will shave man standing from the early age i had an interest in medicine are growing up on a farm in michigan want to move to suburban detroit. My fondest memories were spent with my grandfather who was a physician i would spend weekends with him and he would make crowns and that meant he got in his car to make house calls. I would ever forget the warmth and love he was greeted at every single day house berger after graduating a move to a land of which i have called home nearly 40 years i met my wife, and raise our seven. I did residency at everywhere ive returned to serve as the medical director of the orthopedic clinic. I have treated patients from all walks of life including many children berger anyone whos had the privilege of treating a child knows of filling it is to look into the eyes of a mom or dad to help heal their son or daughter mia memories are filled of patients and parents and after 25 years i started a solo orthopedic practice it eventually became one of the far just off practices in the country that i eventually served as chairman of the board. As a practicing physician i learned to the Broader Health care system and a couple of different memories stand out. The number of times where patients were angry figuratively standing between themselves and their physician making it so what the physician was recommending may or may not be possible through insurance regulators toward the government. Then i remember vividly there were more people in the Office Behind the door where we saw patients trying to fight with insurance regulators than in front of the door treating the patients and it became clear color Health Care System was losing focus on the patient. As a result i felt compelled to broaden my role to help the issues so iran for the Georgia State senate. Oftentimes it was remarkably bipartisan but this is the environment and i have been fortunate with the collaboration in just this past congress it was the bipartisan effort of a broken Payment System that is now then implemented properly to help insure that seniors have access to Higher Quality care. So the as the appreciation of what has been a lifetime of commitment to health and wellbeing pdf the commitment extends with accessibility. There are real heroes to keep the food save their our heroes among the dedicated men and women and men to achieve the american dream. And then to use compassion to beat compassion and to be accountable. Then across the spectrum of issues there is up lamp a promise to strengthen the resolve into those Senior Citizens to save and strengthen and secure medicare for todays beneficiaries and future generations that the medicaid population has access to quality care to maintain and expand medical innovation in the treatment and eradication of disease. And spending my life in service to them there is no doubt we share the same point of view addressing each of these issues our policies may differ but it is a commitment to public service. The work i did in communities was to bring forward the greatest quality of talent that we could assemble. Second is to understand the scope and issues and having the experience in the clinical arena to understand the scope. I think often times it gets kind of muddy. We named the programs and make certain that the resources are there. Are we truly in proving the fold and safety is the one of the major goals is to look at the metrics and the department to make sure we are accomplishing that mission. The centers fo the centers for medicare and Medicaid Innovation have begun numerous initiatives som, which generated much controversy. Can. The quality of care we need to be able to provide our citizens. Innovation is what leads Quality Healthcare and expands the ability of Healthcare Professionals to be able to treat patients of strong support innovation and i think one of the roles that we have is to incentivize information. The center for medicare and Medicaid Innovation is the vehicle that might do just that. Its defined areas where it is dictating to providers in the country all they must practice, so whether it is a Geographic Area that includes 67 or 68 areas of the country but have to perform in a certain way or whether it is 75 of the part of the demonstration project which dictates to other providers the drugs they must use in this setting that is no longer a Pilot Project to determine whether an Innovative Solution might work. Thats changing the way that american medicine is practiced as opposed to the family, doctors and patients. Strong support of innovation and hope we can move in a direction that make sense. Medicare lost more than 150 billion to improper payments over the last three years. The threshold of 10 for the past four years given the Medicare Trustees issue concerns about looming medicare insolvency we stay at the current spending levels will your administration champion the progress so that we can recover a higher percentage of the tax payer dollars lost each year to building mistakes and make sure that it will be in place for future american seniors and as a physician who has experience with medicare and Medicaid Programs do yo

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