HHS pick Price says Trump doesn’t want to ‘ pull the rug out’

The Trump administration would support legislation to replace the Affordable Care Act only if it doesn’t “pull the rug out on anyone,” Rep. Tom Price, R- Ga., told the Senate committee reviewing his nomination to head the Department of Health and Human Services.

Such a commitment is at odds with Republican plans to replace the existing law with bills that would curtail the expansion of Medicaid, which has helped provide health insurance to more than 20 million Americans. It also highlights the moving scale with which Obamacare replacements are being discussed by President- elect Donald Trump and his key nominees, such as Price.

The hearing began with a dispute between the chairman and ranking Democrat on the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions panel about the time lawmakers would have for questions.

It continued with Democrats focusing on Price’s investments in health firms that benefited from bills he introduced or pushed.

While Price’s opposition to the Affordable Care Act is neither surprising nor likely to derail his support in Congress, the investments make the likelihood of confirmation murkier. The Wall

Street Journal reported last month that Price traded about $ 300,000 in shares in the past four years in health companies while pursuing bills that could favorably affect them.

Price and his friend, Senate Ethics Committee Chairman Johnny Isakson, R- Ga., defended Price’s purchases. Price said his broker bought shares in one medical device company without his knowledge. Sen. Christopher Murphy, D- Conn., raised Price’s stock purchases in six companies that would have been hurt by a Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services pilot project, the opposition to which Price led in the House.

Other purchases raised by Sen. Al Franken, D- Minn., were stock purchases made through his mutual funds and pensions, Price said.

Franken was one of three Democrats on the panel holding Wednesday’s hearing who sent a letter to chairman Lamar Alexander, R- Tenn., urging him to delay the hearing until the ethics allegations can be “thoroughly investigated and addressed.”

Since 2012, Price bought and sold stock in about 40 health care, pharmaceutical, and biomedical companies, the letter said. When it comes to the ACA, Price seemed to favor continuing the prohibitions on lifetime limits on insurance coverage and discrimination on the basis of preexisting conditions.

Price, an orthopedic surgeon, has received strong backing from medical groups. Of the $ 15 million that Price has received in campaign contributions during his career, Price has received more than $ 50,000 each from the American Medical Association, American Association of Orthopedic Surgeons, American College of Cardiology and other health care groups, according to the non- profit Public Citizen.

Public Citizen joined Planned Parenthood and other groups in petitions opposing the nomination delivered to Sen. Patty Murray, D- Wash.

USA TODAY Tom Price