Ms. Verma was invited to speak on behalf of the Trump administration, which is currently supporting a lawsuit to overturn the ACA. The House Energy & Commerce subcommittee planned to question her on declining insurance coverage rates and rising healthcare costs. The hearing marked the first time Ms. Verma testified in the House.
“Whether it be attacks on the ACA, Medicare or Medicaid, since day one this administration has engaged in a concentrated effort to undermine, weaken, and outright eliminate health insurance coverage for tens of millions of Americans,” subcommittee chairman Rep. Frank Pallone, Jr., D-N.J., said in prepared remarks.
Ms. Verma came prepared to testify on the progress CMS and HHS have made during her tenure, including the Patients Over Paperwork initiative and efforts to lower drug prices, among other work. Her remarks focused on achieved cost-savings and improved flexibility for patients and providers, according to CBS News.
During questioning, Ms. Verma was evasive when asked how many people would lose insurance if the ACA is struck down in courts, according to CBS News. She also declined to provide specifics on how people with preexisting conditions would be protected in the absence of the ACA. When questioned about the lack of results from implementing Medicaid work requirements, she said “it’s premature to draw conclusions,” according to the report.
Read the full story here.
Read Ms. Verma’s prepared remarks here.
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