Aspen Ideas - Public Event 3

With an annual budget of $1.65 trillion, the vast U.S. Department of Health and Human Services oversees Medicare, Medicaid, the National Institutes of Health, the Food and Drug Administration, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and much else. Three secretaries, past and present from both sides of the aisle, share their experiences about leading the agency and exchange ideas about making tough decisions, setting priorities, and dealing with Congress, the White House, and the American public — all while promoting scientific research, providing access to health insurance, addressing public health emergencies, funding programs to combat poverty and hunger, and creating workforce training opportunities. Spoiler alert: Navigating all that isn’t easy!

Speakers:

Alex Azar, 24th HHS secretary
Xavier Becerra, U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius, 21st HHS secretary
Moderator: Julie Rovner, Kaiser Health News