The nominee to run HHS under President-elect Donald Trump has a history of putting doctors’ interests first.
As Kaiser Health News reports, U.S. Rep. Tom Price, MD, R-Georgia, has sponsored several bills in recent years aimed at promoting the freedom and financial interests of physicians. Most of them failed to pass, such as implementing caps on malpractice suits and limiting background checks on physicians by regulators and hospitals, but as the leader of HHS, his policy priorities will have more weight.
“Instead of having a secretary for the people, you have a secretary for the medical profession,” said Case Western University law professor Max Mehlman, who specializes in medical malpractice litigation.
Price would be the first MD to lead HHS since the administration of President George H. W. Bush. While major medical associations are on board with his nomination—largely because of his medical background—individual members of those groups have harshly criticized the quick endorsement.
For more on how Price’s past proposals offer hints on his priorities at HHS, click on the link below:
John joined TriMed in 2016, focusing on healthcare policy and regulation. After graduating from Columbia College Chicago, he worked at FM News Chicago and Rivet News Radio, and worked on the state government and politics beat for the Illinois Radio Network. Outside of work, you may find him adding to his never-ending graphic novel collection.