HHS Weekly Report

THIS ISSUE AVAILABLE ONLINE WITH EXPANDED INFORMATION AT:
www.hhs.gov/news/newsletter/weekly

Secretary Thompson's public schedule for the week of March 10-16:

Monday, March 11
10:00 AM White House event commemorating the six-month anniversary of the 11 September 2001 terrorist attacks

Tuesday, March 12
10:00 AM Senate Finance Committee hearing on welfare, Room 215, Dirksen Senate Office Building

2:30 PM House Ways and Means Committee hearing on welfare, Location TBD

Wednesday, March 13
10:00 AM House Energy and Commerce Committee hearing, Room 2123, Rayburn House Office Building

2:00 PM Colorectal Cancer Awareness Event, Humphrey Building Auditorium, Washington, DC

7:00 PM American Ireland Fund Gala, Ronald Reagan Building, Washington, DC

Thursday, March 14
9:00 AM President's Advisory Council on HIV/AIDS, White House Conference Center, Washington, DC

HHS Secretary to appear before Senate Finance Committee and House Ways and Means Committee

The early and yet full-scale discussion of welfare reform continues on Capital Hill this week, as HHS Secretary Tommy G. Thompson testifies before two committees on the President's reauthorization proposal on March 12th.

The Secretary will appear before the Senate Finance Committee and the House Ways and Means Committee.

He discussed the pending welfare legislation with the National Association of Counties during a March 4th conference, highlighting President Bush's belief that work must be at the centerpiece of any further reforms.

"The only way to escape poverty is through work," he said. "It is important to remember that EVERYONE under the old AFDC program was in poverty. What's worse, they were trapped in poverty. They had few alternatives. Welfare reform provides a way out through work and opportunity. And we are not done."

The legislation would require a 40-hour workweek from welfare recipients, an increase from the current 30 hours. At the same time, states will have the flexibility to count up to 16 hours a week of education, job training and substance abuse treatment as work. And three out of every 24 months can be used for substance abuse treatment.

The American Ireland Fund will honor HHS Secretary Tommy G. Thompson on March 13 at its 10th National Gala by presenting him the Fund's Distinguished Leadership Award.

Two of the Secretary's grandmothers emigrated from Ireland, and he has long spoken in support of the peace process in Ireland and Northern Ireland.

About 1,000 people are expected for the event at the Ronald Reagan Conference Center.

The American Ireland Fund (AIF) is world's largest private organization funding constructive change throughout Ireland and Northern Ireland. It is part of an international network. Ireland Funds in Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Great Britain, New Zealand, Japan, South Africa, Monaco and Mexico representing a global community of more than 70 million people.

The AIF has raised over $120 million so to support its growing grants program. Grants are targeted at initiatives to promote peace and reconciliation in Northern Ireland, culture and the arts, education and community development.

When testifying to Congress on the President's fiscal year 2003 budget for the Department Health and Human Services, Secretary Tommy G. Thompson is making a point to discuss management initiatives at HHS.

"When I accepted my post at HHS, the President charged me with making significant management reforms in my department," the Secretary said. "I have taken the President's charge seriously, and am implementing reforms that will enable HHS to serve the American people even better in coming years.

Secretary Thompson will share that message when he testifies Wednesday, March 13, before the House Energy and Commerce Committee.

He notes that the agency is reducing the number of personnel offices from 46 to four, eliminating unnecessary duplication of services, while realigning and consolidating other departments throughout HHS.

In addition, HHS has launched a regulatory reform initiative to reduce the paperwork burden on physicians, hospitals, and other health providers.

"For HHS to truly be compassionate, we have to be effective," Secretary Thompson said. "That means running our programs well and honoring the taxpayers with the best possible services we can provide."

The total HHS request for FY 2003 is $488.8 billion -- a 6.3 percent increase over 2002.

The Presidential Advisory Council on HIV/AIDS will convene for a two-day meeting on Thursday, March 14th, and HHS Secretary Tommy G. Thompson will open the session by swearing in new members.

On March 1, the Secretary announced the appointment of former HHS Secretary Louis W. Sullivan, M.D., and former U.S. Rep.Thomas Coburn, M.D., an Oklahoma physician, to serve as co-chairs of the council.

He also named 23 members to the group, which provides the President and the Secretary with recommendations promote the highest quality of research, prevention, care and treatment. They will join nine other members currently serving on the council.

"Under the leadership of Dr. Sullivan and Dr. Coburn, these new council members will be an invaluable resource for the administration as we continue the nation's battle against HIV and AIDS," Secretary Thompson said. "HHS has long supported a vigorous response to this terrible disease through extensive research, prevention initiatives and expanding access to quality care and treatment. The expertise that the new members bring will help our efforts grow even stronger."

The meeting at the White House Conference Center will include detailed briefings on the Administration's domestic and international efforts to combat HIV/AIDS.

Address to the Federation of American Hospitals

HHS Secretary Tommy Thompson addressed the annual convention of the Federation of American Hospitals (FAH) on the morning of Tuesday, March 5. The FAH is the major representative body looking out for the interests of private hospitals across the United States.

Secretary Thompson addressed the hospitals' role in bioterror-prevention. Noting that the FY 2003 budget calls for $4.3 billion -- a 45% increase -- to support a variety of critical activities to prevent, identify and respond to incidents of bioterrorism, he said:

"For hospitals, this money means a better pharmaceutical stockpile. It means more and better research. It means better access to the research of others. It means better facilities. It means increased communication and coordination with local and national health authorities. It means an even more central role in the protection of the lives of your fellow Americans"

The Secretary also spoke about issues like Medicare reimbursements and inflation updates, the new Outpatient Prospective Payment System, the regulatory reform effort, and the 1996 Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). He promised to work with the FAH on all these matters, and urged it and its members to communicate their concerns and especially their solutions to him and the Department of Health and Human Services.

Last updated 10 March 2002
United States Department of Health and Human Services
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