WASHINGTON, D.C. – Ways and Means Committee Chairman Jason Smith (MO-08) delivered the following opening statement at a Health Subcommittee field hearing held at Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine in Bradenton, Florida on Modernized Health Care in Practice: Empowering Americans to Live Healthier Lives: 

As prepared for delivery. 

“We are so glad to be here today in Health Subcommittee Chairman Vern Buchanan’s district today. Chairman Buchanan is one of the strongest champions for chronic disease prevention we have in Congress. Vern was on a mission to make America healthy again before it was cool. We will miss him in Congress and are glad for your leadership on this important issue. 

“I also want to thank our host, Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine. This school is one of the 53 medical schools that joined the Trump Administration’s pledge to provide at least 40 hours of nutrition training to students. Educating our future doctors on good nutrition is critical for the patients who will one day trust them for medical advice. 

“The nutrition pledge is a recognition that not enough attention and resources have been paid to prevention in our health care system. Today, that system incentivizes treatment of chronic disease over its prevention. That reality is not working. Despite our nation spending an astounding $5.3 trillion on health care each year, 60 percent of Americans still have at least one chronic disease, heart disease, diabetes, or cancer – all of which disproportionately affect rural Americans.

“For Medicare beneficiaries, that number is a staggering 95 percent. That statistic should not be a surprise when Medicare only spends five cents of every dollar on primary care. Too often, we intervene only once someone has gotten sick and do too little to stop Americans from getting sick in the first place. 

“That is why the Ways and Means Committee passed legislation that encourages more preventive care, like providing multi-cancer early detection screenings to seniors on Medicare. The Working Families Tax Cuts expanded HSAs to millions of more Americans, which allows individuals to invest in their own health and wellness. The Rural Health Transformation Program is investing $50 billion in efforts to grow and sustain innovative care in rural communities.

“But that is just a start. More needs to be done to help Americans live longer, healthier lives. Medicare could expand value-based payments to improve patient outcomes while reducing the cost of wasteful medical services. More patients could receive new innovations in disease testing and care delivery to detect disease before it is too late. Doctors could show patients realistic ways to take care of themselves, like spending more time outdoors like we are today. 

“I want to thank each of our witnesses for taking time away from your practices to share your experience of what is working and what is not, and your ideas you have to modernize health care for the benefit of all Americans. 

“We also want to hear from everyone in the audience who took time to come today. There will be clipboards passed around during the hearing for you to share with the committee how preventive care has made a difference for you or a loved one or share other thoughts about today’s hearing topic. These comments will be entered into the official record for this hearing.”