Price defends HHS budget cuts, vows 'to uphold the law' of ACA

HHS Secretary Tom Price, MD, faced a barrage of questions from Democrats about his plans for the Affordable Care Act (ACA) at a House Appropriations Committee hearing.

The meeting was the first chance lawmakers have had to question Price after the White House shelved the American Health Care Act, the Republican and President Donald Trump's plan to repeal and replace the ACA. Pressed on subjects including budget cuts and his support for the ACA, the Georgia physician remained relatively vague in his answers.

He did, at one point, say HHS would support the ACA for the foreseeable future.

"So long as the law is on the books, we at the department are obliged to uphold the law," Price said.

Click the link below for more information:

Around the web

The mobile power units of certain HeartMate 3 and HeartMate II LVADs have been experiencing “sudden, unexpected performance issues” such as turning on, off or even restarting with no warning. These issues can potentially be fatal, according to an alert shared by the FDA.

Radiology practices are already operating on razor thin margins, with price increases prompting calls for congressional action to prevent further damage. 

United Imaging and other manufacturers that have established American factories may remain insulated from the trade war.