Burgess Questions Secretary Becerra on FY 2025 HHS Budget During Energy and Commerce Health Subcommittee
Washington,
April 22, 2024
Washington, D.C. - Congressman Michael C. Burgess, M.D. (R-TX), Chairman of the House Rules Committee, joined the Energy and Commerce Health Subcommittee in questioning Secretary Xavier Becerra of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) on the Fiscal Year 2025 Department of HHS Budget. Click HERE for Video.
“Would you agree that provider consolidation is a problem that needs to be addressed?,” asked Chairman Burgess. "I’m glad you feel that way. I think that the presence of independent physicians is an invaluable counterweight to the rise of consolidation in our health care marketplace. What is this Administration doing to help preserve independent practice as an option for physicians and patients?” asked Chairman Burgess. "We continue to work within the industry to make sure that no consolidation is occurring for monopolistic purposes. We work with the Department of Justice on that. We try to keep prices competitive. I would probably agree with you if you were to ask me if removing those independent practitioners is going to lead to higher prices and I would probably tell you it absolutely does," said Secretary Becerra. "It's going to lead the worst patient care and that's really what we should be concerned about. I mean it's one thing to spend a lot of money, it's another thing to spend a lot of money and not deliver the care that people really need," said Chairman Burgess.
On requesting commitment from the Biden administration to address the current disruptive payment rules, preserve independent practice, reduce health care consolidation, and lower costs for American patients: "Would you consider modifying the upcoming Physician Fee Schedule so that it does not involve the large budget neutrality adjustment and offers facility physicians stability, in cost contrast to many decades of disruptive payment rules?" asked Chairman Burgess. For example, why hasn't this Administration embraced ideas, such as site neutral payment reform to lower costs for the patients and reduced consolidation, something that has been included in President's budget's for over a decade?" asked Chairman Burgess. "I'd be more than willing to discuss with you the ways that we have continued to try to sustain the smaller providers because the smaller providers are typically the ones that are in rural America. They're typically the ones that are in lower income America, and we desperately need to keep them in place. We have promulgated a number of policies that support smaller providers. We want to avoid them being gobbled up by the big guys," said Secretary Becerra. "Here's a pro tip. Site neutrality can replace budget neutrality. We can afford this. We have the dollars within the system, we can afford to do this, it is just the will to deliver on that," said Chairman Burgess. "That would depend on the plan that they purchase, what their income level is, what the level of subsidy would be." said Secretary Becerra. "You say that the cost of care is basically cost plus to Americans but it's not. Americans are paying this bill, and now they're paying highest interest rates on the money they're having to borrow for what you're giving away," said Chairman Burgess. ### |
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