The U.S. Senate has confirmed the nomination of Rep. Tom Price, MD (R-GA), as secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). The vote by the Senate was 52-47.
Dr. Price is an orthopedic surgeon who has represented Georgia's 6th District in the U.S. House of Representatives since 2005. He was chairman of the House Committee on the Budget and a member of the House Committee on Ways and Means and the Congressional Health Care Caucus. His nomination came under fire for alleged trading of medical and pharmaceutical company stocks while he was serving in the House of Representatives.
Dr. Price's nomination for HHS secretary was supported by the ADA. Dr. Price has maintained a good relationship with dentists in his district and demonstrated a deep understanding of dental issues, according to a statement released by the ADA.
"Dr. Price has an in-depth understanding of the need to protect the doctor-patient relationship, which should serve as the key guiding principle behind any changes to the medical and dental healthcare delivery system," wrote Gary Roberts, DDS, president of the ADA, and Kathleen O'Loughlin, DMD, MPH, executive director of the ADA, in a letter to Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-UT), chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, in January.
Dr. Price is be the first physician to lead the HHS since January 1993, when Dr. Louis W. Sullivan was succeeded by Donna Shalala.
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