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Price Wins Confirmation As US Health Secretary; Verma On Deck For CMS Hearing

 
• By Sue Darcey

Senators voted 52 to 47 to confirm Rep. Tom Price, R-Ga., as Health and Human Services secretary, where he will be a key leader implementing reversals to the Affordable Care Act. Meanwhile, Trump’s pick to lead the Medicare agency, Seema Verma, faces a confirmation hearing in the Senate Feb. 16.

After a lengthy and heated debate, a majority Republican Senate voted 52-47 along party lines on Feb. 10 to confirm Rep. Tom Price, R-Ga., as the new US Health and Human Services secretary. Meanwhile, the president’s pick to lead the US Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, Seema Verma, is scheduled to appear for a confirmation hearing before the Senate Finance Committee on Feb. 16. Verma, a conservative health policy consultant, is expected to work with Congress to scale back programs instituted for Medicare and Medicaid by the Affordable Care Act.

Sen. Lamar Alexander, R-Tenn., who leads the Senate HELP (Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions) Committee, endorsed Price for the HHS spot, as did many of his fellow GOP senators, saying...

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More from Policy & Regulation

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