Trump Picks Anti-ObamaCare Tom Price to Head HHS

Article audio sponsored by The John Birch Society

President-elect Donald Trump announced on November 29 that he will nominate Representative Tom Price (shown, R-Ga.) to be secretary of Health and Human Services. Dr. Price, who has represented Georgia’s sixth district in the House since 2004, worked in private practice as an orthopedic surgeon for nearly 20 years before being elected to the Georgia State Senate.

In announcing his selection, Trump said in a statement:

[House Committee on the Budget] Chairman Price, a renowned physician, has earned a reputation for being a tireless problem solver and the go-to expert on healthcare policy, making him the ideal choice to serve in this capacity. He is exceptionally qualified to shepherd our commitment to repeal and replace ObamaCare and bring affordable and accessible healthcare to every American. I am proud to nominate him as Secretary of Health and Human Services.

When news of the nomination broke on the evening of November 28, former House Speaker Newt Gingrich tweeted that Price will make a “great” HHS secretary, and “is the right leader to help Congress replace Obamacare.”

A report in the Zero Hedge financial blog noted that as a member of the House GOP Doctors Caucus, Price helped shape the healthcare plan that House Speaker Paul Ryan now pitches as his alternative to ObamaCare.

A statement about the Affordable Care Act (“ObamaCare”) posted on the website of the caucus says:

Since 2009, before the Affordable Care Act became [law], the Doctors Caucus has been leading the charge to put patients and their doctors back in charge of health care decision-making. The members of the Caucus have written letters, held special orders, led committee hearings, written op-eds and spoken on the House floor in opposition to this flawed piece of legislation-turned-law. The Caucus has even offered on multiple occasions to meet directly with the president to explain to him why the law would be bad for patients.

The Doctors Caucus will continue leading the effort to repeal this unworkable health care reform law and reform the health care system with changes that lower cost, ensure access, and improve quality and outcomes for patients.

The Zero Hedge report noted that Price has long advocated a plan of tax credits, expanded health savings accounts, and lawsuit reforms to replace ObamaCare.

Both Trump and Price have been outspoken critics of Obama and have pledged to overhaul it. However, Trump told the Wall Street Journal in an exclusive interview on November 11 that “he would consider leaving in place certain parts” of ObamaCare. The Journal continued: “[He] showed a willingness to preserve at least two provisions of the law after Mr. Obama asked him to reconsider repealing it during their meeting…. Mr. Trump said he favors keeping the prohibition against insurers denying coverage because of patients’ existing conditions, and a provision that allows parents to provide years of additional coverage for children on their insurance policies.”

During a post-election interview with Lesley Stahl on CBS’ 60 minutes on November 11, Trump said he planned to keep some parts of ObamaCare:

Stahl: “Let me ask you about ObamaCare, which you say you’re going to repeal and replace. When you replace it, are you going to make sure that people with pre-conditions are still covered?”

Trump: “Yes. Because it happens to be one of the strongest assets.”

Stahl: “You’re going to keep it?”

Trump: “Also, with the children living with their parents for an extended period, we’re going to…”

Stahl: “You’re going to keep that?”

Trump: “.. very much try and keep that. It adds cost, but it’s very much something we’re going to try and keep.”

Stahl: “And there’s going to be a period if you repeal it and before you replace it, when millions of people…”

Trump: “No.”

Stahl: “… will be — no?”

Trump: “We’re going to do it simultaneously. It’ll be just fine. That’s what I do. I do a good job. You know, I mean, I know how to do this stuff. We’re going to repeal it and replace it. And we’re not going to have, like, a two-day period and we’re not going to have a two-year period where there’s nothing. It will be repealed and replaced. I mean, you’ll know. And it’ll be great healthcare for much less money.”

It is apparent from that interview that Trump may intend to scale back ObamaCare, but does not intend to scrap it entirely, as many constitutionally conservative Republicans in Congress would like to do.

As The New American noted in a November 13 article, “Americans should now recur to their state legislators and demand that they commit themselves to boldly asserting the sovereignty of the states and forcing the raging bull of the federal government back within the small and well-defined corral built by our Founding Fathers, regardless of the ebb and flow of presidential policy.”