NE Washington News

House Energy and Commerce Health Subcommittee Chair Brett Guthrie (R-KY) expressed concerns about the Fiscal Year 2025 budget request for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services during a recent hearing. Guthrie highlighted various issues with the budget, including its impact on everyday Americans, rising Medicare prices, burdensome regulations on the health care industry, and the influx of deadly drugs at the southern border.

Guthrie criticized the budget for its lack of focus on lowering health care costs and its emphasis on tax-and-spend policies. He stated, "Today we will hear the Secretary talk about why the budget doesn’t lower health care costs and spends trillions in new dollars. This misses the mark."

Regarding Medicare prices, Guthrie pointed out that changes made by the Inflation Reduction Act will lead to significantly higher premiums for seniors enrolled in Medicare Part D drug plans. He emphasized the negative impact of these price controls on patient access to life-saving therapies.

Furthermore, Guthrie raised concerns about burdensome oversight and regulation in the health care industry, particularly regarding nursing facilities and long-term care providers. He highlighted the strain that these regulations place on an already overwhelmed sector and the potential reduction in access to care for vulnerable patients.

Guthrie also criticized the budget for failing to address the influx of illicit drugs, such as fentanyl, at the southern border. He expressed disappointment that policies to combat drug trafficking were not included in the budget request, despite the significant amount of deadly fentanyl seized at the Southwest Border.

In conclusion, Guthrie called for bipartisan solutions to address the high costs of health care and urged the Biden administration to collaborate with Congress to lower costs, eliminate ineffective programs, reduce federal spending, and promote innovation in the health care sector.