Price Sworn In As HHS Secretary After Contentious Nomination Process
While Republicans praised new Health and Human Services Secretary Tom Price as having a "thorough understanding of health care policy and the damage that Obamacare has caused," others continued to speak out against him. "This guy is a wrecking ball,” Sen. Angus King, I-Maine, said. “He is not a secretary. He is going into this agency to destroy it."
The New York Times:
Tom Price Is Sworn In As Health Secretary Amid Senate Disunity
President Trump’s secretary of health and human services, Tom Price, took office on Friday with a promise to fix what he called a “broken health care system” that was “harming Americans and their families.” Mr. Price was sworn in by Vice President Mike Pence just hours after the Senate, by a party-line vote of 52 to 47, confirmed his nomination in the early hours of Friday morning. (Pear and Rappeport, 2/10)
Reuters:
With Eye On Obamacare, Price Takes Helm As U.S. Health Secretary
As head of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Price has the authority to rewrite rules implementing the 2010 Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare. He could move quickly to rework the regulations while waiting for Republicans in Congress to keep their pledge to scrap the law entirely. (Cornwell, 2/13)
The Wall Street Journal:
As HHS Head, Price Has Wide Latitude To Shape Obamacare’s Fate
Tom Price’s swearing-in as secretary of health and human services Friday means he is now in position to dismantle key parts of the Affordable Care Act, even if repeal efforts in Congress bog down. But it isn’t clear Dr. Price will quickly gut parts of the law. Instead, the Trump administration is expected to issue a proposed rule soon to appease insurers and help stabilize the individual insurance market for 2018, giving Republicans breathing room to continue working on their overhaul plans. (Armour and Hackman, 2/10)
The Washington Post:
Polarizing HHS Secretary Sworn In After Senate’s Party-Line Vote
The new secretary offered no remarks following his swearing-in hours later by Vice President Pence. But the biggest challenge he faces — one on which progress in Congress seems uncertain for now, despite GOP lawmakers’ pledges for immediate action — was the first subject Pence mentioned in his introduction. “President Trump has made it the top priority of this new Congress to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act with health-care reform that will lower the cost of health insurance without growing the size of government,” Pence said. (Goldstein and Sullivan, 2/10)
Modern Healthcare:
New HHS Secretary Tom Price Faces A Crushing Inbox
Newly confirmed HHS Secretary Tom Price likely will spend his first few days focusing on efforts to stabilize the individual health insurance market as Republicans work to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act. Following the pattern of strictly party-line votes on two previous nominees—Attorney General-designate Sen. Jeff Sessions and Betsy DeVos for education secretary—the former congressman from Georgia was approved on a 52-47 vote. (Meyer and Dickson, 2/11)
The Hill:
Women's Healthcare Groups Worry About Price Confirmation
Liberal women's health organizations are worried about the confirmation of Tom Price to lead the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), citing his past statements and positions on abortion, birth control and ObamaCare. “A vote for Tom Price is a vote against affordable birth control, access to reproductive health care, and a vote against Planned Parenthood," said Planned Parenthood President Cecile Richards. (Hellmann, 2/10)
