‘He wants to win': How HHS nominee Tom Price will lead ACA repeal debate
U.S. Rep. Tom Price, MD, R-Georgia, is now poised to get the job the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports he’s always wanted: Secretary of HHS. With it, he’ll bring what former colleagues call a fierce work ethic and an “inflexible” nature on major issues like repealing the Affordable Care Act (ACA).
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution profile traced Price’s political career from an orthopedic surgeon to medical society lobbyist to a leader in Georgia’s state legislature, where he spearheaded a bill to limit medical malpractice liability.
“He was polite. He was cordial and kind to talk about it,” said former Democratic state representative Tom Bordeaux. “But he was totally inflexible. That came from seeing a totally different side of everything than I do.”
Since entering Congress in 2005, he’s been behind efforts to make changes to Medicare and Medicaid to limit federal spending, all while eyeing the promotion President-elect Donald Trump has now given him.
“He wants to win. He will want to accomplish this more than Trump wants to accomplish this. He does not like to lose,” said former Georgia Senate President Eric Johnson. “And he’ll use everything—sugar and spice—to win the battle for a new health care plan.”
For more on how Price’s past may inform his policies 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.