President-elect Donald Trump is considering Rep. Tom Price, R-Georgia for secretary of Health and Human Services, according to published reports.
A long-time Trump supporter, Price was among the first Republicans to introduce healthcare legislation as an alternative to the Affordable Care Act when Democrats were debating reform in 2009 and 2010 and sponsored legislation to repeal the ACA.
The orthopedic surgeon chairs the House Budget Committee and sits on the House Ways and Means Committee, which has jurisdiction over healthcare policy.
Like Trump and conservative Republicans, Price supports the use of health savings accounts as a way for consumers to pay for healthcare. He is also in favor of capping the tax break for employer-based coverage and providing refundable tax credits adjusted by age, not income, to buy health insurance, according to published sources.
On health payment reform, Price voted in favor of the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act, or MACRA, but has voiced concerns over provisions of enacting the law.
Other Republicans in contention for HHS secretary include former Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal, former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, Florida Gov. Rick Scott, former Rep. Renee Ellmers of North Carolina, and former Utah governor, Mike Leavitt, who served as HHS Secretary under George W. Bush.
Former presidential candidate Ben Carson was in consideration, but Carson has said he would not serve in the Trump administration.
This article originally appeared on Healthcare Finance. Twitter: @SusanJMorse
Election 2016 reader survey results:
✓ Health IT pros overwhelmingly unhappy Trump won
✓ Execs express dystopian view of Trump presidency
✓ What C-suite execs expect when Trump takes over
✓ 100 things insiders said about Trump's healthcare plans
