Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Use Of Private Jets Justified Because Of Tom Price's 'Incredibly Demanding Schedule,' Spokeswoman Claims
The New York Times: Spokeswoman Cites ‘Demanding Schedule’ For Health Secretary’s Use Of Private Jets
Tom Price, the health and human services secretary, spent tens of thousands of taxpayer dollars to fly on private jets to attend routine public events instead of taking cheaper commercial airliners because he has an “incredibly demanding schedule,” his spokeswoman said Wednesday. Mr. Price, a physician and former Republican congressman from Georgia, chartered five work-related flights last week alone. In all, the private flights cost the federal government as much as $60,000, according to a report by Politico, citing internal department documents. (Thrush, 9/20)
The Wall Street Journal: HHS Defends Tom Price’s Use Of Private Jets
Politico reported late Tuesday on five recent trips taken by Dr. Price on charter flights estimated in the report to have cost tens of thousands of dollars apiece. These trips occurred in situations where driving, passenger rail or commercial flights were all viable options, according to the report. “The Trump administration treats taxpayer dollars like they are frequent-flier miles, while they try to take health care away from millions,” the Democratic National Committee said Wednesday. “These funds could be used to make health care more affordable and accessible, to help fund Medicaid, combat the opioid epidemic or increase ACA enrollment.” (Radnofsky, 9/20)
The Hill: Top Dem Asks Watchdog To Look Into Price Private Jet Travel
A top House Democrat is asking the inspector general of Health and Human Services (HHS) to look into a report that the head of the department took private jets to travel for official business. Rep. Frank Pallone Jr. (N.J.), the top Democrat on the House Energy and Commerce Committee, released a statement Wednesday saying he would ask the HHS inspector general for a "full accounting" of Secretary Tom Price's travel. (Sullivan, 9/20)
Concord Monitor: Shaheen Calls For HHS Secretary To Reveal Source Of Money For N.H. Trip
The announcement that Health and Human Services Secretary Tom Price was visiting a small Seacoast city last week caught some in New Hampshire by surprise. The Somersworth city manager wasn’t alerted ahead of time ... Now, the senator is calling on the secretary to release how, exactly, his trip to the Granite State was funded, after it was reported that Price took private jets on five separate flights for official business, including his jaunt here. (Andrews, 9/20)
