Trump Taps Rep. Tom Price as HHS Secretary

Federal Health Care Reform

American Health Policy Institute CEO Tevi Troy joined NPR's Morning Edition this week to praise President-elect Trump's selection of Rep. Tom Price (R-GA) as Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services.  Troy told NPR that Price, an orthopedic surgeon, is "a smart doctor who understands the health care system but also understands the legislative process."  A critic of the ACA and proponent of overhauling the Medicaid and Medicare programs, Price has introduced his own legislation to repeal and replace the health care law.  His plan, the Empowering Patients First Act, was the basis for a subsequent proposal by House Speaker Paul Ryan, which received Price's endorsement in June. Dr. Troy noted that any replacement plan must consider the value of employer-sponsored health insurance.  "You have to remember that 177 million Americans get their health care through employers, and that remains an important part of the system.  And I know [Price] is aware of that part of the system."