>> PETER ALEXANDER, THANK YOU SO MUCH.
>>> NOW FROM WHAT IS JUST A SHINY OBJECT, THE SCARAMUCCI
STORY, TO THE STORY THAT HAS A FAR BROADER IMPACT ON AMERICANS.
CONGRESS'S FAILURE TO OVERHAUL HEALTH CARE.
JOINING US NOW THAT CAPITOL HILL, DEMOCRATIC CONGRESSMAN JOE
KENNEDY THE THIRD OF MASSACHUSETTS.
CONGRESSMAN, WHERE DO WE GO FROM HERE AND ALSO, WHAT'S THE
DEMOCRAT'S ROLE IN THIS PROCESS? AND WHAT CAN THEY DO TO MAKE
THEIR PARTY GREAT AGAIN? >> SO FIRST OFF, THANK YOU FOR
HAVING ME. GREAT TO BE WITH YOU AGAIN.
IT WAS A BIG NIGHT LAST NIGHT. IT WAS A BIG NIGHT FOR THE
AMERICAN PUBLIC. IT WAS A BIG NIGHT FOR THE
HEALTH CARE SYSTEM. IT WAS A BIG COMMITMENT THAT WE
MAKE TO EACH OTHER THAT MAKE SURE WHEN PEOPLE ARE VULNERABLE
AND SICK AND SCARED THAT THERE IS A SYSTEM THERE YOU CAN COUNT
ON. THE BOTTOM LINE ON THIS IS FOR A
LOT OF FOLKS ACROSS THE COUNTRY, OUR HEALTH CARE SYSTEM IS NOT
PERFECT. WHILE WE'VE MADE TREMENDOUS
GAINS, WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERY PERSON IN
THE COUNTRY HAS ACCESS TO QUALITY, AFFORDABLE HEALTH CARE.
THAT HAS TO BE EVERY SINGLE PERSON'S PROMISE.
FIRST WE MAKE SURE THIS ADMINISTRATION IS NOT GOING TO
TRY TO SABOTAGE THE EFFORTS TO MAKE THAT TRUE.
THE PRESIDENT TWEETED THIS MORNING HE WAS GOING TO TRY TO
MAKE THE LAW FAIL. THAT MEANS HE'S ROOTING FOR
PEOPLE TO GET HURT AND FOR OUR ECONOMY TO TANK.
THAT'S STUNNING COMMENTS FROM THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED
STATES. TWO, STRENGTHENING THE
INDIVIDUAL MARKET. PREMIUMS ARE FORECASTED GO UP
AND HAVE GONE UP. IF YOU ASK WHY, A LOT OF IT IS
DUE TO THE UNCERTAINTY GOING ON IN THESE BUILDINGS AND WHAT THE
ADMINISTRATION IS GOING TO TRY TO STRENGTHEN OUR HEALTH CARE
SYSTEM. THIRD, DIVE INTO THE SUBSTANCE
OF THE CHALLENGES, PARTICULARLY AROUND PRESCRIPTION DRUG COSTS
AND A HUGE PRIORITY HAS TO BE A MENTAL AND BEHAVIORAL HEALTH
OVERHAUL. IT'S FILLING OUR CRIMINAL
JUSTICE PROGRAM. AND WHEN WE'RE SUFFERING FROM AN
OPIOID EPIDEMIC, LOCKING PEOPLE UP ISN'T HOW YOU SOLVE THE
ISSUE. >> TOM COAL WAS WITH US A FEW
HE SHARED SOME OF THE TENETS HE WOULD NEED TO START A
CONVERSATION WITH DEMOCRATS. IT'S CLEAR OBAMA CARE HAS WORKED
BUT THERE'S CHALLENGES PARTICULARLY AROUND PREMIUM
INCREASES. HOW DO YOU ADDRESS THAT MEDICAID
EXPANSION AND THE LACK OF COMPETITION THAT EXISTS IN
EXCHANGES ACROSS THE COUNTRY? WHAT'S THE DEMOCRATIC RESPONSE
TO THAT TO TRY TO SOLVE THIS PROBLEM?
>> I THINK A COUPLE OF POINTS ON THAT ONE.
FIRST OFF, MEDICAID PREIMBURSTMENT RATES, THERE'S
NOT A LOT OF DOCTORS THAT GET RICH OFF MEDICAID.
ONE OF THE CHALLENGES IS THE REIMBURSEMENT RATES ARE SO LOW
THAT PATIENTS CAN'T FIND A PROVIDER TO DELIVER HEALTH CARE.
IF YOU'RE LOOKING TO TRY TO SAVE DOLLARS HERE, IT ACTUALLY MEANS
FLUSHING OUT A CONTINUE YUM OF CARE.
THAT'S THE CASE ON MENTAL AND BEHAVIORAL HEALTH.
THERE A SMALL PERCENTAGE OF THE POPULATION THAT'S THE HIGHEST
COST DRIVERS TO THE SYSTEM. THAT'S WHERE WE NEED TO FOCUS.
I WOULD POINT OUT THAT IN THE LONG RUN, IT'S DOUBLING DOWN ON
WHAT THE AFFORDABLE CARE ACT, THE SYSTEM THAT PUT FORTH, WHICH
IS THIS TRANSITION OFF OF VOLUME BASE OR FEE FOR SERVICE BASE
MODEL OF HEALTH CARE GIVELY TO MAKE SURE THEY COMPENSATED FOR
THE QUALITY OF CARE PROVIDED. WE NEED TO FLUSH IT OUT AND FUND
IT. IF YOU DO THAT, YOU'LL GET THE
SAVINGS THAT I THINK ALL OF US KNOW ARE IN THAT SYSTEM AND IN
THE MIDST OF THE TRANSITION AT THE