DeGette Stresses Pediatric Care with Secretary Sebelius at Health Hearing

WASHINGTON – During a Energy and Commerce Committee legislative hearing with Secretary Kathleen Sebelius, Department of Health and Human Services, on the comprehensive health care reform discussion draft, U.S. Rep. Diana DeGette (D-CO), Vice Chair of the Committee on Energy and Commerce, today addressed health care quality, the unique needs of children, and the need for a robust health care workforce. This was the second day of three days of scheduled hearings by the Energy and Commerce Committee on the health care reform discussion draft.

"The discussion draft incorporates many components of the National Health Care Quality Act, which I introduced with Senators Rockefeller and Whitehouse. It would strengthen the national health care quality infrastructure, in order to identify and track key health indicators as well as to develop and implement new science across the states. The draft bill also contains a provision that requires the Director of the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality to work with the Secretary to ‘develop quality measures for the delivery of health care services in the United States.' I believe this is of the utmost importance.

"However, I am concerned about the implications for pediatric health care quality measures because even though the bill requires that measures be designed ‘to assess delivery of health care services to individuals regardless of age,' this section is funded with Medicare dollars. Under the previous Administration, the Department of Health and Human Services determined that Medicare funding could not be used for pediatric measures."

Secretary Sebelius responded to U.S. Rep. DeGette's questioning by indicating that Medicare can be a leader in improving the quality of care for all Americans, and children fall under this umbrella. She was also confident that the Obama Administration will be able to move forward with fulfilling the bill's mandate and develop pediatric quality measures.

Please click here to view the exchange between U.S. Rep. DeGette and Secretary Sebelius.

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