Tom Price Confirmed As Secretary of HHS
The Democrats continued to stall as long as they could, but thanks to Harry Reid, stalling is the only bullet left in their gun. Congressman Tom Price was confirmed in the wee hours of the morning on a straight party line vote. A doctor is now at the helm of the agency that oversees Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security – and a $1.1 Trillion dollar budget.
Price will quickly resign his seat in Congress, leaving a special election for the Governor to call. The other Georgia impact is that the state may quickly resume requests for waivers to begin Medicaid pilot programs to move patients out of emergency rooms and into care centers for routine medical services.
This was a pilot sought two years ago but the state ultimately withdrew its request after being told by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid they would most likely not approve such a waiver. An executive order signed by President Trump directs CMS to approve waivers where possible. This is a stopgap measure while Congress debates changes to the Affordable Care Act and a potential replacement.
Congratulations to Georgia’s own Congressman Price. He’s got a lot of work ahead of him.
About Author
Charlie
Founder of GeorgiaPol.com; Now weekly columnist Very interested in Georgia and Georginas. Interest in politics is waning daily.
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WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Johnny Isakson, R-Ga., today applauded U.S. Representative Tom Price, M.D., R-Ga.-06, on his confirmation to lead the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services by a vote of 52-47 in the U.S. Senate. Isakson has championed Price’s nomination and helped usher him through the confirmation process in the U.S. Senate.
“As I have said all along, Tom Price is the right man, at the right time, for the right job,” said Isakson, who is a member of the Senate Committee on Finance. “After enduring new levels of obstruction and partisan political games designed to slow down his confirmation, Tom can now get to work and focus on the task of replacing the failed Obamacare with sustainable, free-market principles.”
“I’m committed to working with Tom to return authority back to the states to design their own health care markets and see to it that Americans once again have health insurance coverage at a competitive and affordable price,” Isakson continued. “Tom will lead our top health agency with the expertise that every American would hope for and will help ensure that our health care policies focus on the needs of patients.”
Prior to the final vote, Isakson spoke on the floor of the Senate to encourage senators in both parties to support Price’s nomination, touting Price’s qualifications for the position.
The Senate Committee on Finance approved Price’s nomination last week by a 14-0 margin, after Senate Democrats boycotted the vote. Isakson led the charge to override the boycott after sharply addressing his colleagues in the committee, arguing that the Democrats should do their job of casting an up-or-down vote.
Isakson introduced Price at his hearing before the Senate Committee on Finance on Jan. 24, 2017, as well as at Price’s first hearing before the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions on Jan. 18, 2017.
Isakson penned an op-ed in support of Price’s nomination to head the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services that ran in USA Today on Jan. 25, 2017, titled “The Price is Right.”
Isakson also defended Price on the floor of the U.S. Senate on Jan. 17, 2017, regarding Price’s strong ethics and argued that Price’s credentials are unquestioned and that he is eminently qualified for the position to which he was nominated. Price is expected to play a large role in the replacement of former president Obama’s terribly flawed health care law in the months ahead.
Price’s seat in the U.S. House of Representatives, which Price has held since 2005, was previously held by Isakson.
Having had six years to prepare to respond to the worst thing to ever happen to the country, Trump supporters can rest assured in the knowledge Price will execute a prompt and comprehensive repeal and replacement of Obamacare that limits health care cost increases, cuts taxes, and maintains a comparable quality and level of coverage.
I have a unicorn farm for sale…
I am very curious to see what changes Secretary Price can do administratively without congressional approval. Should be quite interesting.
It’s a really long list. The way the ACA was passed it left a lot of the rule making and new revaluations up to the desecration of the HHS secretary. Because of that Tom can undo them with his signature. I would think that Secretary Price will have his pen ready and signing quite a bet of things next week. There have been thousands of CMS rulings under the ACA that have been really harmful. I’d start there if I were him.
I agree.
I just reread this. That should be regulations and not revaluations. I blame others and not happy hour. Wow, desecration. Meant discretion. I’m done. Going back the bourbon for the weekend.
I agree there are things Price can do on his signature, but there’s a rule-making process to follow with respect to many things, and for things there aren’t we’ve just seem with the immigration Executive Order what slapdash preparation of inadequate vetting produces.
Notwithstanding, while it’s open season for potshots on the GOP not promptly completing major changes that were promised to occur quickly, and that they’ve had a half dozen years to prepare for.