Hello, my name is Dr. Ala Stanford, and as Medical Doctor, I am honored to serve
as the Regional Director for Region Three of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
Our Regional Office is based in Philadelphia where I was born and raised, and serves Delaware,
Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia, and the nation’s capital, Washington, D.C.
on behalf of the Department. The region is remarkable for its diversity. The Northeast
Corridor and Interstate 95 link a stretch of urban cities, sprawling suburbs, and rural communities,
forming the vast Mid-Atlantic, the Northeast. The disparities in health status of states
within this region drive attention to a focus on health equity, bridging the urban-rural divide,
and building regional partnerships. So what does our office do? Our Regional
Office is your front door to Health and Human Services. My team is poised to answer questions,
provide information, and assist with resources for the work that you are doing. Every day, my
team is engaged in meaningful conversations with governors, mayors, tribal leaders, and partners,
like you -- about Health and Human Services policies and programs that ensure that our efforts
are informed by your experiences. From their first day in office, the Biden-Harris Administration and
Secretary Becerra have been focused on improving the health and well-being of all Americans, from
tackling COVID-19, addressing the behavioral and mental health crisis in our country, to expanding
access and reducing the cost of healthcare, this Administration has made real progress
on our priorities. We have more tools than ever to prevent, fight, and treat COVID-19,
including vaccines, boosters, and therapeutics. We are working tirelessly to ensure that no matter
who you are or where you live you can access health care free from discrimination and bias.
In the last year, we’ve also worked to expand access to health care, especially to more
Americans in marginalized communities. During the 2022 Open Enrollment period, a record 14.5 million
people enrolled in quality health care coverage in the Marketplace, including nearly 6 million new
enrollees. And during the pandemic, Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program enrollment
grew from 71 million to roughly 83 million people, that’s the largest single increase in the
program’s history. We have reduced health care costs and proposed a rule to make hearing aids
over-the-counter, which would benefit roughly 30 million people with mild to moderate hearing loss.
And finally, we’ve prioritized behavioral health and invested billions in programs, block grants,
and other initiatives. In October, we rolled out a new strategy for overdose prevention.
And we launched a National Tour to Strengthen Mental Health on the heels of State of the Union.
Looking ahead, we will continue building on this great work. That includes implementing
the new White House COVID-19 plan to protect against and treat COVID-19.
Continuing to be proactive in addressing mental health, which the President has made
a national priority in 2022. And continuing to fight to curb prescription drug costs,
making childcare affordable for all, and strengthening home health care. In short,
we have made significant progress, and it should not stop here. Everyone, this Administration,
with your help, has made significant progress. And yet there is more work ahead. I look forward
to working with you as I have done my entire career, to serve the people of Region three.
Again, I thank you. This is Dr. Ala Stanford and I look forward to the opportunity to serve you.