U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Xavier Becerra recently addressed the National Press Club, advocating for a healthcare system centered on individual wellbeing. He highlighted that approximately 700 million COVID-19 vaccinations have been administered free of charge, and more people are enrolled in health care coverage (300 million) than ever before.

In an HHS news release, Becerra expressed his hope that the nation could shift its focus from an "illness-care system" to a "wellness-care system." He stated that the Biden administration's efforts to reduce healthcare costs, including prescription drug prices, protect access to reproductive healthcare, and provide quality, affordable healthcare services form a solid foundation for this transformation.

Becerra said, "We have this opportunity to make some real change. This president, Joe Biden, sees the opportunity to make a big change in our healthcare system." He continued by explaining the HHS mandate from President Biden: "Nearly 700 million shots in the arms of Americans of the COVID vaccine. National healthcare data shared among all states and the federal government (and the) Marshall plan-type response to save our jobs, to save our businesses, to save our economy."

According to another news release, HHS aims to initiate several measures including lowering drug prices for all Americans and safeguarding reproductive rights.

In relation to these initiatives, Becerra stated: "Using our authority as well to secure reproductive health care access for every American who needs it." He further elaborated on plans for global cooperation in tackling future pandemics and addressing weaknesses in America's expensive healthcare system. "Unprecedented measures to take on a broken public health care system. It's those measures that I want to talk about because they fall on HHS to enact affordable health care coverage."