OUR TOP STORY THIS HALF HOUR,
PRESIDENT TRUMP IS ROLLING OUT A
MEDICARE PLAN TODAY WHERE HE'S
EXPECTED TO SIGN A FEDERAL
ORDER, THIS AS DEMOCRATIC RIVALS
UNVEIL SWEEPING PLANS TO
OVERHAUL THE HEALTHCARE SYSTEM
THE.
JOINING US RIGHT NOW IS HEALTH
AND HUMAN SERVICES SECRETARY,
ALEX AZAR.
MR. SECRETARY, ALWAYS A PLEASURE
TO SEE YOU.
THANKS FOR JOINING US.
>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME.
MARIA: WHAT ARE YOU EXPECTING
THE PRESIDENT WILL UNVEIL?
THIS IS A PROPOSAL TO STRENGTHEN
MEDICARE.
I'D LIKE TO ASK YOU THE DETAILS
ON WHY HE'S FOCUSED ON MEDICARE
ADVANTAGE, THIS ALTERNATIVE
THAT'S BEING OFFERED.
>> YOU BET.
SO TODAY THE PRESIDENT'S ROLLING
OUT AN EXECUTIVE ORDER THAT WILL
STRENGTHEN, PROTECT AND IMPROVE
MEDICARE FOR THE 60 MILLION
SENIORS WHO DEPEND ON IT AND
THAT INCLUDES THE ALMOST
ONE-THIRD OF SENIORS WHO HAVE
MEDICARE ADVANTAGE.
THOSE ARE THE COMMERCIAL PLANS
THAT SENIORS CAN CHOOSE THAT
OPERATE REALLY LIKE YOUR AND MY
INSURANCE AS OPPOSED TO OLD
FASHIONED MEDICARE, INCREASINGLY
POPULAR AMONG OUR CITIZENS,
GROWING VERY RAPIDLY.
IT SHOULD BE APPROACHING 41%
EVENTUALLY IN THE NEXT YEAR IN
TERMS OF MEDICARE ADVANTAGE
ENROLLMENT.
A LOT OF THE PROPOSALS FOR
MEDICARE FOR ALL, THEY WOULD
TAKE MEDICARE ADVANTAGE AWAY,
THEY WOULD OUTHOW PRIVATE
INSURANCE AND THAT'S WHAT THE
SENIORS WANT.
THE PRESIDENT IS PUTTING A STAKE
IN THE GROUND, SAYING HE'S GOING
TO BE THE ONE DEFENDING AND
PROTECTING MEDICARE FOR OUR
SENIORS, HE'S GOING TO BEISM IMP
SENIORS, HE'S GOING TO BEISM IMO
SENIORS, HE'S GOING TO BEISM IMI
SENIORS, HE'S GOING TO BEISM IMG
MEDICARE AND HE'S NOT GOING TO
LET ANYONE TOUCH THEIR MEDICARE.
MARIA: MEDICARE FOR ALL IS THE
PREVAILING SOLUTION WHEN YOU
LOOK AT THE DEMOCRATIC HOPEFULS,
THIS MOST RECENT DEBATE WAS ALL
ABOUT THAT.
SO WHAT CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT
THEIR PLANS AND WHY YOU BELIEVE
THAT THEY ARE WRONG-SIDED.
>> WELL, I'M NOT GOING TO
COMMENT ON POLITICAL PARTIES OR
INDIVIDUALS.
I CAN JUST TALK ABOUT THE POLICY
IDEAS OF MEDICARE FOR ALL.
MARIA: EXACTLY, THE POLICY.
>> YEAH.
SO THE CORE PROBLEM WITH
MEDICARE FOR ALL IS IT'S REALLY
DEPENDENT ON GETTING RID OF
PRIVATE INSURANCE AND WHAT
PRESIDENT TRUMP'S FIGHTING FOR
IS PERSONALIZED PATIENT-CENTRIC
CARE THAT PUTS YOU IN CONTROL
AND TREATS YOU LIKE A HUMAN
BEING AND NOT LIKE A NUMBER.
WHAT COULD TREAT YOU MORE LIKE A
NUMBER THAN OF GOVERNMENT RUN
HEALTHCARE THAT UNDERMINES
MEDICARE FOR SENIORS, REDUCES
ACCESS, CREATES A TWO-TIER
SYSTEM OF HEALTHCARE AS THE BEST
DOCTORS AND HOSPITALS LEAVE THE
SYSTEM.
RIGHT NOW OUR SENIORS GET A GOOD
DEAL BECAUSE MEDICARE UNDERPAYS
AND THE COMMERCIAL MARKET
SUBSIDIZES THE ACCESS OF OUR
SENIORS TO DOCTORS AND
HOSPITALS.
WELL, IF YOU PUT EVERYBODY ON
MEDICARE OR MAKE MEDICARE
AVAILABLE TO EVERYBODY, THAT GIG
IS UP BECAUSE IT GETS SPREAD
ACROSS 330 MILLION AMERICANS AND
THE DOCTORS AND HOSPITALS WILL
FLEE AS THEY HAVE DONE IN OTHER
SOCIALIST SYSTEMS AROUND THE
WORLD.
AND THAT'S WHAT PRESIDENT TRUMP
IS SAYING IS NOT GOING TO HAPPEN
ON HIS WATCH.
MARIA: THAT'S A GOOD ANALYSIS
THAT YOU JUST MADE, ACTUALLY.
YOU MADE IT CLEAR AND I ALSO
WANT TO POINT OUT THAT RIGHT
NOW, 180 MILLION PEOPLE GET
THEIR HEALTH INSURANCE FROM THE
PUBLIC MARKETS AND MEDICARE FOR
ALL OBVIOUSLY WIPES ALL OF THAT
OUT FOR MEDICARE FOR ALL.
LOOK, THE PRESIDENT HAS TALKED A
LOT ABOUT MAKING DRUGS MORE
AFFORDABLE.
YOU'VE GOT CERTAIN LIFE-SAVING
DRUGS THAT ARE REALLY -- THEY
CAN'T EVEN BE ACCESSED BY SOME
PEOPLE, HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS
FOR ONE ROUND OF DRUGS.
THIS PLAN THAT HE'S GOING TO DO
WITH EXECUTIVE ORDER IS ALSO
ALLOWING FOR CHEAPER GENERICS,
RIGHT?
WHAT CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT ITS
IMPACT ON THE PRICE OF DRUGS?
>> YEAH, SO THE PRESIDENT'S
INITIATIVES IN MEDICARE HAVE
BROUGHT CLOSE TO HALF A BILLION
DOLLARS OF SAVINGS TO SENIORS,
320 MILLION OF THAT SAVINGS HAVE
BEEN FOR SENIORS' ACCESS TO
DRUGS, BY LOWERING WHAT MEDICARE
PAYS FOR DRUGS, WE HAVE LOWERED
WHAT SENIORS PAY OUT-OF-POCKET
FOR THOSE SAME DRUGS.
WE ARE ALSO GIVING TOOLS TO
HEALTHCARE PLANS TO INCREASE
GENERIC UTILIZATION, TO MAKE
GENERICS CHEAPER FOR OUR SENIOR
CITIZENS AND THAT'S PART OF
WHAT'S BEEN DRIVING HEALTHCARE
COSTS AND DRIVING DRUG COSTS
DOWN IN THE UNITED STATES FOR
THE FIRST TIME IN 51 YEARS.
MARIA: LET ME TURN, SECRETARY,
TO THE VAPING EPIDEMIC IN
AMERICA TODAY, THE CDC IS GOING
TO BE RELEASING NEW NUMBERS
CONNECTED TO THE CRISIS AS THE
MAYO CLINIC STUDY FINDS TOXIC
CHEMICAL BURNS IN 17 VAPING
PATIENTS RESEMBLE MUSTARD GAS
INJURIES DURING WORLD WAR I.
THIS IS GETTING SCARY.
HOW SERIOUS IS THE ISSUES AROUND
VAPING?
>> I WANT TO SEPARATE THE VAPING
ISSUES YOU TALKED ABOUT FROM THE
OTHER ISSUE OF E-CIGARETTES AND
NICOTINE ADDICTION AMONG OUR
YOUTH.
THE VAPING ISSUE AND LUNG
INJURIES IS VERY SERIOUS.
PEOPLE ARE USING VAPING
INSTRUMENTS AND THE IMAGE ORDER
OF THE CASES THAT -- MAJORITY OF
THE CASINGS WE'VE SEEN INVOLVED
THEM USING PODS THAT HAVE THC,
THE ACTIVE INGREDIENT IN
MARIJUANA.
THEY HAVE OTHER PRODUCTS IN
THEM.
YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU'RE
GETTING.
YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT TOXINS
YOU'RE VAPORIZING AND PUTTING IN
YOUR LUNGS.
AS A GENERAL HEALTH MATTER,
DON'T PUT STUFF IN YOUR LUNGS.
IT'S NOT GOOD FOR YOU.
PUTTING VAPING MATERIALS INTO
YOUR LUNGS PUTS YOU AT RISK.
THESE PRODUCTS ARE OFF THE
STREET THINGS.
YOU ARE TRUSTING JUST ANYBODY
SELLING YOU SOMETHING AND WE'RE
TRYING TO GET TO THE BOTTOM OF
WHAT THE CHEMICALS ARE THAT MAY
BE CAUSING THIS LUNG TOXICITY.
WE STILL DON'T HAVE A COMPLETE
ANSWER FOR EVERY SINGLE CASE.
WE SEE CASES WHERE VITAMIN
EACETATE WHICH IS AN OIL USED IN
FACE CREAMS HAS BEEN USED TO CUT
THE THC.
THAT GETS VAPORIZED,
THAT GETS VAPORIZED GETS IN THE
LUNGS, CREATES AN OIL IN THE
LUNGS.
THERE ARE OTHER THINGS GOING ON
THAT WE CAN'T EXPLAIN ALL OF THE
CASES WE'RE SEEING.
PLEASE BE CAREFUL.
IF YOU'RE A VAPOR, BE CAREFUL
WITH OFF-THE-STREET PRODUCTS OR
ANYTHING THAT MIGHT BE ADULL --
MARIA: YOU MAKE A GOOD POINT ON
THE VITAMIN E OIL THAT A LOT OF
PEOPLE ARE SAYING MAY BE PART OF
THE ISSUE.
HOW DOES THAT JIVE WITH THE IDEA
THAT MARIJUANA IS BEING LEE
GAIZED IN -- LEGALIZED IN SO
MANY STATES AROUND THE COUNTRY.
>> IT SHOWS BUYER BEWARE.
WHEN YOU USE THC TO GET A HIGH
THROUGH VAPING, YOU DO SOMETHING
THAT'S AGAINST FEDERAL LAW AND
YOU'RE GETTING PRODUCTS THAT
ANYBODY COULD HAVE PUT ANYTHING
IN THEM, COULD HAVE CUT THE
PRODUCT TO MAKE MONEY, TO THIN
THE PRODUCT, TO MAKE A LITTLE
MORE CHANGE AND YOU'RE THE
VICTIM OF THAT.
YOU ARE AT THEIR MERCY.
MARIA: VERY, VERY IMPORTANT
COMMENTARY FROM YOU, SECRETARY.
LET ME ASK YOU ABOUT WALMART,
NOW TESTING HEALTH FOCUSED
PROGRAMS IN SELECT MARKETS FOR
EXISTING MEDICAL PLANS, TO
REDUCE HEALTHCARE SPENDING.
HOW IMPORTANT IS THE PRIVATE
SECTOR IN ADDRESSING THE PRICING
ISSUES FOR HEALTHCARE AND ARE WE
GOING TO SEE MORE FROM THE
PRIVATE SECTOR TRYING TO A
APPROACH THIS?
>> WELL, I'M DELIGHTED TO SEE
THE INNOVATIONS THAT WALMART IS
BRINGING, AS WELL AS OTHER
INNOVATIONS THAT PRIVATE SECTOR
ARE BRINGING BECAUSE WE AS A
GOVERNMENT DON'T HAVE THE
SOLUTIONS TO HEALTHCARE, WE'RE
USUALLY THE CAUSE OF THE
PROBLEMS.
BUT WHAT WALMART IS DOING IS
CONSISTENT WITH WHAT PRESIDENT
TRUMP IS TRYING TO DO IN
HEALTHCARE, WHICH IS TO GET A
HELPING HAND TO PEOPLE THROUGH
OUR HEALTHCARE SYSTEM.
YOU OFTEN FEEL AS AN INDIVIDUAL
ALONE TO NAVIGATE THE SYSTEM AND
WE'RE REDESIGNING OUR HEALTHCARE
SYSTEM, MEDICARE AS WELL AS
OTHER PROGRAMS SO THAT PEOPLE
WHO HAVE TO NAVIGATE THAT SYSTEM
HAVE A HELPING HAND.
THEY FEEL CARED FOR EVEN AS
THEY'RE IN CONTROL, THAT THEY
HAVE ALIGNED INCENTIVES WITH A
PRIMARY CARE PRACTICE THAT WILL
HELP THEM NAVIGATE THROUGH THE
SYSTEM AND GET BETTER HEALTH
OUTCOMES BY COMMON INCENTIVES.
VERY MUCH ALIGNED WITH WHAT
WALMART AND OTHER PRIVATE SECTOR
ENTITIES ARE DOING HERE.
I APPLAUD THOSE EFFORTS.
MARIA: YOU HAVE JP MORGAN AND
AMAZON TRYING TO COME UP WITH A
PRIVATE SOLUTION.
WE HAVEN'T HEARD MUCH ABOUT
THAT.
HOW ARE THEY -- ARE THEY WORKING
WITH GOVERNMENT ON THEIR PLANS
AND WHAT IS -- WHAT ARE THEY
TRYING TO ACCOMPLISH?
>> MARIA, I HAVEN'T HEARD MUCH
FROM THEM ABOUT WHERE THEY'RE
GOING YET.
I AM MORE FAMILIAR WITH WHERE
WALMART IS GOING AND VERY
EXCITED ABOUT THE CHANGES TO THE
HEALTH SYSTEM THERE.
MARIA: MR. SECRETARY, ALWAYS A
PLEASURE TO SEE YOU.