In the House hearing, Rep. Bustos described the physician to patient disparity between rural and urban areas in Illinois, yet the President’s budget cut health workforce programs by 50%. Secretary Azar highlighted the Department’s support for the National Health Service Corps. Other issues briefly discussed were the Department’s cuts to gun violence prevention research, cuts to Title X, and how the Department received consent from children to have their therapy sessions with ICE transmitted to DHS.
In the Senate hearing, Secretary Azar described the President’s healthcare agenda which includes the need for more physician assistants, nurse practitioners, and other health professionals. Subcommittee Ranking Member Murray, in her opening statement, disagreed with the budget’s proposal to cut nearly $800 million from “tuition assistance, loan forgiveness and training for several hundred thousand health professionals annually” and eliminate of the Social Service Block Grant and the Preschool Development Grants. Other issues briefly discussed were the Department’s liver allocation policy, surprise medical billing, drug pricing transparency, and the treatment of children held at the border.
Summaries for the hearings can be found here: House and Senate