Tom Price full 'State of the Union' interview

OFF.
FAMOUS LAST WORDS BUT I THINK
WE'RE GOING TO GET THERE.
>> I'M JOINED BY DR. TOM PRICE,
SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN
SERVICES, WHO JOINS US THIS
MORNING FROM ASPEN, COLORADO.
THANK YOU FOR JOINING ME, MR.
SECRETARY.
>> THANKS, DANA.
GOOD TO BE WITH YOU THIS
MORNING.
>> THANK YOU.
ONE OF THE MOST SCATHING
CRITICISMS OF THE NEW SENATE
REPUBLICAN BILL TO REPEAL
OBAMACARE DIDN'T COME FROM
DEMOCRATS.
IT CAME FROM REPUBLICAN SENATOR
DEAN HELLER OF NEVADA.
LISTEN TO WHAT HE SAID.
>> HEALTH CARE IN THE LAST TEN
YEARS, THE BIGGEST LIE WAS IF
YOU LIKE YOUR DOCTOR, YOU CAN
KEEP IT.
SECOND BIGGEST LIE IS THAT YOUR
PREMIUM WILL GO DOWN.
THERE ISN'T ANYTHING IN THIS
LEGISLATION THAT WILL LOWER YOUR
PREMIUMS.
>> THAT IS A REPUBLICAN SENATOR
SAYING YOU AND YOUR FELLOW
REPUBLICANS, WHO ARE PUSHING
THIS BILL, ARE LYING TO VOTERS
WHEN YOU CLAIM THAT PREMIUMS ARE
GOING TO GO DOWN UNDER YOUR
PLAN.
WHAT'S YOUR RESPONSE?
>> YEAH.
WELL, I DON'T KNOW THAT THAT'S
WHAT HE'S SAYING.
I THINK THERE'S A
MISUNDERSTANDING ABOUT WHAT THE
ENTIRE PLAN IS AND THE FACT OF
THE MATTER IS THAT THE BILL IS
PART OF THE PLAN AND THE KINDS
OF THINGS WE'RE DOING THROUGH
THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND
HUMAN SERVICES SO THAT OUR GOAL
IS TO DECREASE PREMIUMS, TO MAKE
IT SO THAT HEALTH COVERAGE IS
ACTUALLY AFFORDABLE AGAIN.
RIGHT NOW, WE'VE GOT PREMIUMS
GOING THROUGH THE ROOF,
DEDUCTIBLES ARE SKY ROCKETING.
FOLKS WITH HEALTH COVERAGE CARD
BUT NO CARE BECAUSE THEY CAN'T
AFFORD THE DEDUCTIBLE.
THE STATUS QUO IS UNSUSTAINABLE,
COMPLETELY.
WE'VE GOT TO ACT.
ACTION IS ABSOLUTELY VITAL.
WE LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUING TO
WORK WITH SENATOR HELLER.
I'VE HAD WONDERFUL KFRGS WITH
HIM.
WE'VE HAD CONVERSATIONS WITH THE
GOVERNOR OF NEVADA AND LOOK
FORWARD TO WORKING THROUGH THIS
SO THAT WE HAVE A HEALTH CARE
SYSTEM THAT WORKS FOR THE
AMERICAN PEOPLE.
>> YOU SAID YOU HAVE GOALS AND
ASPIRATIONS, BUT HE IS SAYING,
POINT BLANK, THAT THE BILL
BEFORE THE SENATE DOES NOT BRING
PREMIUMS DOWN.
IN FACT, IT WILL DO THE
OPPOSITE.
CAN YOU PROMISE THAT AT THE END
OF THE DAY WHAT THE PRESIDENT
WILL SIGN WILL BRING PREMIUMS
DOWN FOR THE MAJORITY OF
AMERICANS?
>> YEAH.
THE PLAN IN ITS ENTIRETY WILL
ABSOLUTELY BRING PREMIUMS DOWN.
YOU INCREASE COMPETITION,
CHOICES FOR INDIVIDUALS.
YOU ALLOW FOLKS TO BE ABLE TO
PURCHASE THE KIND OF COVERAGE
THAT THEY WANT.
NOT THAT THE GOVERNMENT FORCES
THEM TO BUY.
THOSE ARE ALL THE SECRET KEYS TO
A MARKET THAT ACTUALLY WORKS FOR
HEALTH CARE AND WORKS FOR
PATIENTS.
THAT'S THE KEY.
WE'VE GOT A HEALTH CARE SYSTEM
THAT MAY WORK FOR GOVERNMENT,
MAY WORK FOR INSURANCE COMPANIES
IN CERTAIN INSTANCES.
THAT'S ENDING AS WELL.
IT CERTAINLY DOESN'T WORK FOR
PATIENTS AND THAT'S THE KEY
WE'RE TRYING TO GET TO, A HEALTH
CARE SYSTEM THAT WORKS FOR
PATIENTS ALL ACROSS THIS LAND.
>> BRIAN SANDOVAL IS WORRIED
THAT PEOPLE WHO MAKE AS LITTLE
AS $16,000 PER YEAR WILL LOSE
THEIR MEDICAID COVERAGE AND NOT
BE ELIGIBLE AND BE ABLE TO
AFFORD PRIVATE INSURANCE.
TAKE A LISTEN.
>> THESE ARE OUR FRIENDS, OUR
FAMILIES, OUR NEIGHBORS.
THEY'RE LIVING HEALTHIER AND
HAPPIER LIVES BECAUSE OF THAT
DECISION.
I DON'T THINK THAT CAN BE
OVERSTATED ENOUGH.
>> THIS IS A REPUBLICAN GOVERNOR
WHO IS CONCERNED THAT YOUR PLAN
WILL ERODE THE LIVES OF MOST
VULNERABLE.
WHAT'S YOUR RESPONSE?
>> IT JUST WOULDN'T HAPPEN.
WE ARE WORKING WITH THE GOVERNOR
TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY
UNDERSTAND THAT THE WAIVERS AND
OPTIONS WE'RE OFFERING THE
STATES, THE EXTRA RESOURCES THAT
WILL BE AVAILABLE FOR STATES TO
COVER THE MOST VULNERABLE.
I'M A PHYSICIAN.
I TOOK CARE OF PATIENTS FOR OVER
20 YEARS.
THE HEALTH CARE SYSTEM THAT I'M
SUPPORTING AND WILL CONTINUE TO
SUPPORT IS ONE THAT ACTUALLY
RESP
RESPONDS TO PATIENTS' NEEDS.
NOT JUST IN NEVADA, BUT IN
PENNSYLVANIA, IN FLORIDA, IN
WASHINGTON STATE, MAINE AND NEW
MEXICO, ALL ACROSS THIS COUNTRY.
WE'VE GOT A HEALTH CARE SYSTEM,
AGAIN, THAT'S WORKING FOR
GOVERNMENT RIGHT NOW BUT IT'S
NOT WORKING FOR PATIENTS.
THERE'S A BETTER WAY TO DO THIS.
>> LET'S STAY SPECIFICALLY ON
THIS QUESTION ABOUT MEDICAID.
HE'S NOT THE ONLY REPUBLICAN.
BOTH OF THEM IN NEVADA ARE NOT
THE ONLY REPUBLICANS CONCERNED
ABOUT MEDICAID CUTS.
THE CBO SAID IT REDUCE MEDICAID
BY $834 BILLION.
>> YEAH.
THAT'S INTERESTING BECAUSE --
>> IS THAT NOT A CUT?
>> IT ALL DEPENDS WHAT YOU'RE
COMPARING IT TO.
THE MEDICAID PROPOSAL IN THE
SENATE BILL GOES UP EVERY SINGLE
YEAR THAT THE PLAN IS IN PLACE
BECAUSE IT'S BASED ON THE
CONSUMER PRICE INDEX, INITIALLY
BASED ON THE CONSUMER PRICE
INDEX RELATED TO MEDICAL CARE
ACROSS THE COUNTRY AND GOES UP
EVERY SINGLE YEAR.
IT'S IMPORTANT THAT THE PEOPLE
APPRECIATE.
WHAT OUR GOAL IS, IS TO MAKE IT
SO FOLKS ON MEDICAID, THE MOST
VULNERABLE IN OUR SOCIETY, MOMS
AND KIDS AND SENIORS AND THE
DISABLED, THAT PROGRAM WORKS FOR
THEM IN A WAY THAT GIVES THEM
THE COVERAGE THEY NEED IN
ADDITION TO THOSE IN THE
VULNERABLE CATEGORY, THAT
THEY'RE ABLE TO GET THE KIND OF
COVERAGE THAT THEY WANT AND NEED
FOR THEIR FAMILIES.
>> JUST TO UNDERLINE THIS, YOUR
POSITION IS THAT REPUBLICAN
GOVERNOR SANDOVAL IN NEVADA IS
WRONG WHEN HE SAYS THAT HIS
CONSTITUENTS, THOSE WHO ARE THE
NEEDIEST, ARE GOING TO LOSE
COVERAGE?
HE'S NOT RIGHT ABOUT THAT?
>> WELL, DANA, I KNOW THAT'S
WHAT THE DIVISIONIST NEWS WANTS
TO DO.
>> I'M ASKING FOR THE FACTS.
IS HE WRONG?
>> AND WHAT I'M TELLING YOU IS
THAT THE SYSTEM, THE PLAN THAT
WE HAVE, THAT WE WOULD PUT IN
PLACE WOULD NOT ALLOW THEM TO
FALL THROUGH THE CRACKS.
WE WOULD NOT PULL THE RUG OUT
FROM ANYBODY AND HAVE
INDIVIDUALS LOSE COVERAGE THAT
THEY WANT FOR THEMSELVES AND
THEIR FAMILY.
WE WANT TO MAKE CERTAIN THAT
HEALTH CARE IS AVAILABLE TO ALL
AMERICANS.
RIGHT NOW WE'VE GOT 28 MILLION
AMERICANS WHO ARE UNINSURED, WHO
DON'T HAVE INSURANCE IN THE
CURRENT PLAN.
IS THAT A PLAN THAT WORKS FOR
PATIENTS?
ABSOLUTELY NOT.
THAT'S THE KIND OF THING WE'RE
TRYING TO FIX.
>> IT WOULD SLASH TAXES ON THE
WEALTHIEST AMERICANS.
LOOKING AT THE BILL THAT CAME
OUT OF THE HOUSE, BILLIONAIRE
INVESTOR WARREN BUFFETT SAID IT
WOULD REDUCE HIS TAX BILL BY
$680,000 AND HE HAS A QUESTION
FOR PUBLIC OFFICIALS THAT I
WANTED TO POSE TO YOU.
TAKE A LISTEN.
>> I THINK IT WOULD BE VERY
INTERESTING FOR THE CONSTITUENCY
OF EVERY CONGRESSMAN THAT VOTED
FOR THAT BILL TO ASK JUST ONE
QUESTION.
ARE YOU ABOVE 250 ON YOUR
ADJUSTED GROSS INCOME?
IF YOU WERE, HOW MUCH WOULD YOU
SAVE FROM WHAT YOU PAID LAST
YEAR FROM THIS BILL YOU JUST
PASSED?
>> SO WHAT'S YOUR ANSWER?
HOW MUCH WOULD YOU SAVE UNDER
THE HOUSE AND SENATE BILLS?
>> OBAMACARE TAXES WERE PUT IN
PLACE TO BUILD A WHOLE NEW
GOVERNMENT PROGRAM,
GOVERNMENT-RUN HEALTH CARE.
WHEN YOU BACK OUT OF THAT AND
MAKE IT SO YOU HAVE A
PATIENT-CENTERED SYSTEM WHERE
PATIENTS, FAMILIES AND DOCTORS
ARE RUNNING HEALTH CARE, NOT THE
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, OF NECESSITY
THAT ALLOWS YOU TO DO SO WITH
NOT AS MUCH MONEY.
WE BELIEVE IT'S SLUFL VITAL WE
DECREASE TAXES FOR THE AMERICAN
PEOPLE, ALLOW THEM TO KEEP MORE
OF THEIR HARD-EARNED MONEY.
DID YOU APPRECIATE -- I DON'T
KNOW IF YOUR LISTENERS DO.
THERE'S 6.5 MILLION AMERICANS
RIGHT NOW WHO ARE PAYING
PENALTIES IN TACKS FOR THE
PURPOSE OF NOT PURCHASING HEALTH
CARE COVERAGE.
THAT SYSTEM ISN'T WORKING FOR
THOSE 6.5 MILLION.
HOW ABOUT LOWERING ING TAXES FO
THOSE 6.5 MILLION?
>> I UNDERSTAND BUT WHEN IT
COMES TO THE BILL BEFORE THE
UNITED STATES SENATE THE FACT OF
THE MATTER IS THAT PEOPLE LIKE
YOU ARE GOING TO GET A TAX CUT.
>> THE FACT OF THE MATTER IS
THAT THOSE 6.5 MILLION WILL NO
LONGER HAVE TO PAY $3 BILLION IN
A PENALTY OR TAX TO THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT BECAUSE THEY'RE NOT
INTERESTING IN PURCHASING WHAT
THE GOVERNMENT WANTS TO FORCE
THEM TO BUY.
THIS SYSTEM IS RUN FOR THE
GOVERNMENT, BY THE GOVERNMENT,
DICTATED BY THE GOVERNMENT AND
IT'S NOT RESPONDING TO PATIENTS'
NEEDS.
28 MILLION INDIVIDUALS RIGHT NOW
UNINSURED, 6.5 MILLION FOLKS
SPENDING $3 BILLION IN TAX
PENALTY.
PREMIUM IS UP, DEDUCTIBLE IS UP.
COVERAGE GOING AWAY.
WE HAVEN'T EVEN BEGUN TO TALK
ABOUT THE STATES WHERE COUNTIES
WILL HAVE NO INSURANCE INSURER
NEXT YEAR.
THAT SYSTEM DOESN'T WORK FOR
PATIENTS.
THAT'S WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO FIX.
>> I'M NOT SURE WARREN BUFFETT
WILL BE SATISFIED THAT HE GOT AN
ANSWER TO HIS.
>> HE I'M NOT SURE THAT WARREN
BUFFETT IS INTERESTED IN
INSURING PATIENTS IN THOSE
COUNTIES.
THAT'S KEET.
WE NEED TO LOOK AT EVERY SINGLE
AMERICAN CITIZEN AND EVERY
SINGLE INDIVIDUAL ACROSS THIS
LAND THAT THEY GET THE COVERAGE
THEY WANT FOR THEMSELVES AND
THEIR FAMILY NOT THAT THE
GOVERNMENT FORCES THEM TO BUY.

Tom Price full 'State of the Union' interview

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