President-elect Donald Trump has selected Georgia Rep. Tom Price, a leading critic of President Barack Obama’s sweeping health care law, to head the Department of Health and Human Services. The Associated Press reports key Senate Democrat immediately criticized the choice, which was announced this morning.
If confirmed by the Senate, Price would play a central role in Republican efforts to repeal and replace the current health care law. Trump has pledged to move quickly on overhauling the landmark measure, but has been vague about what he hopes to see in a replacement bill. Also this morning, Seema Verma was picked to become administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.
The president-elect has said he favors keeping provisions that allow young people to stay on their parents’ health insurance and which prevent insurance companies from denying coverage to those with pre-existing conditions.
Replacing President Barack Obama’s health care law is “one of the things he’s going to lead the charge on as secretary of HHS,” says Jason Miller, a Trump transition team spokesman.
Democrats immediately signaled a fight over the pick. Sen. Chuck Schumer, the incoming Senate Democratic leader, said Price has proven to be far out of the mainstream of what Americans want” for health care programs and services for seniors, the disabled and women.
“Nominating Congressman Price to be the HHS secretary is akin to asking the fox to guard the hen house,” Schumer says.
Price, a 62-year-old six-term congressman and orthopedic surgeon, has chaired the House Budget Committee for the past two years. A bookish conservative from the Atlanta suburbs, Price has worked closely with House Speaker Paul Ryan to assemble GOP budgets aimed at reducing the annual deficit.
