Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Price Introduced Bill To Reverse Medicare Cuts After Company He Invested In Warned They Could Hurt Profits
USA Today: HHS Nominee Tom Price Bought Stock, Then Authored Bill Benefiting Company
President Trump's nominee to be the nation's top health official introduced legislation last May that benefited a health company he had recently invested in. The $15,000 purchase of shares in McKesson is but the latest financial action raising questions about possible conflicts of interest during the confirmation battle over Rep. Tom Price, R-Ga. The orthopedic surgeon was approved by the Senate Finance Committee on Wednesday and his nomination will soon be voted on by the full Senate. (O'Donnell, 2/2)
CQ Roll Call: Republicans Advance Price Nomination For HHS In Senate
The Senate on Thursday moved a step closer toward confirming the nomination of Rep. Tom Price to lead federal medical programs in a vote that split along party lines. As the likely next secretary of Health and Human Services, Price will help lead GOP efforts to undo and revise the terms of the Obama administration’s expansion of medical insurance coverage. The Senate voted 51-48 on a motion to proceed to executive session and allow consideration of the nomination of Price, a Georgia Republican, to lead HHS. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., then filed a debate-limiting cloture motion on the nomination, setting up a key procedural vote possibly as soon as next week. (Young, 2/2)
St. Louis Post Dispatch: McCaskill To Oppose Trump's Pick For Health Secretary
Sen. Claire McCaskill will vote against Rep. Tom Price to become secretary of health and human services. Price, a medical doctor who has served in the House since 2005, would lead the department that oversees Medicaid, Medicare and is tasked with overseeing several aspects of the Affordable Care Act. McCaskill, D-Mo., said she would oppose Price because he didn't satisfactorily answer for his past proposals, which include turning Medicaid into a block-grant program. (Aton, 2/2)
