iStock//Thinkstock(WASHINGTON) — Donald Trump’s pick to lead the Department of Health and Human Services faced questions at his Senate confirmation hearing Wednesday about the president-elect’s plans for an Obamacare replacement, and promised an orderly transition to a new system.
In his confirmation hearing on Capitol Hill, Rep. Tom Price, R-Ga., was also questioned on his history of health-related stock trades while working on health insurance. He denied any impropriety.
The incoming Trump administration aims to prevent Americans from losing their health care in a transition from the current system to any GOP replacement, Price told the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee.
“There has been a lot of talk about individuals losing health coverage and that is not our goal nor our desire nor our plan,” Price said.
“Nobody is interested in pulling the rug out from under anybody,” he said of Republicans seeking to repeal and replace the health care law.
The Georgia Republican, who put forward a conservative alternative to Obamacare as a House member, promised to work with Congress to make sure all Americans have “access to the highest quality care and coverage possible,” distancing himself from Trump’s recent promise to The Washington Post that there will be “insurance for everybody.”
But he also said his goal in the administration would be to push Trump’s health care agenda, and not his own proposals.
Asked if he would support lifting the prohibition on the government negotiating drug prices with pharmaceutical companies for Medicare — an idea he opposed as a congressman that Trump has repeatedly endorsed — Price said he would be “carrying out” Trump’s wishes at the Department of Health and Human Services, but did not give a yes or no answer, as requested by Sen. Tammy Baldwin, D-Wis.
Democrats expressed alarm over potential changes to the current health care system.
“I am very frightened about what you are going to do and so are millions of Americans,” said Sen. Al Franken, D-Minn.
They also sharply questioned Price on a series of health-related stock activity while Price worked on legislation that could have possibly benefited some of the companies he traded in.
Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wis., the top Democrat on the panel, pressed Price on his purchasing of shares of a small Australian drug company — whose largest shareholder is fellow Rep. Chris Collins, R-N.Y. — as Congress was putting together a major health bill that would help the Food and Drug Administration approve drugs more quickly.
Murray claimed Price told her in their private meeting that he purchased the stock after talking about it with Collins.
“Is that not a stock tip?” she asked.
“I had no access to nonpublic information,” he insisted, pushing back against accusations that he may have violated the STOCK Act.
“I’m offended by the insinuation,” Price said in response to similar questions from Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., and pointed out that the Office of Government Ethics has approved his plan to divest himself of holdings that would present a conflict-of-interest.
Price touched on his experience as a doctor-turned-state legislator, and how that shaped his positions on health care, which was well-received by supportive Republicans on the panel.
“You’re clearly one of the premier people in all of Congress who understands health care,” said Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah.
Democrats accused Chairman Lamar Alexander, R-Tenn., of limiting their questions.
“The Benghazi hearing was 11 hours. That’s all I’m saying,” Franken said.
Copyright © 2017, ABC Radio. All rights reserved.
