HHS Secretary Alex Azar will testify before the House Appropriations Committee's health subcommittee March 15 to defend his 2019 budget request, according to The Hill.
Mr. Azar is expected to face questions from legislators about the administration's proposed cuts to Medicare and Medicaid as well as his willingness to entertain proposals that undermine the ACA, including expanding short-term insurance coverage.
"Some critics say that this coverage option will raise premiums in the individual market. But @CMSGov projects that in the short-term, those effects will be minimal," CMS Administrator Seema Verma tweeted March 9. "Also, we believe this is far better than forcing people to buy coverage they don't want and can't afford."