Congressman Tom Price, MD (R-GA) was confirmed as the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) by the Senate on February 10, 2017. He was approved by a party-line vote of 52-47. Dr. Price will be the first physician to lead HHS since Dr. Louis W. Sullivan during the George H.W. Bush administration.
Dr. Price, a retired orthopedic surgeon from suburban Atlanta who served as chairman of the House Budget Committee, will be one of the key players to implement the effort to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act. He is a member of the American Medical Association (AMA) House of Delegates representing the Medical Association of Georgia.
Throughout his tenure, Dr. Price has supported the College of American Pathologists (CAP) on a number of issues. He was a lead sponsor on House legislation to repeal outdated cytology proficiency testing requirements, and he orchestrated passage of the bill twice in the House. In addition, Dr. Price supported exempting pathologists and other hospital-based physicians from penalties under Medicare’s meaningful use of electronic health record program. He also supported the CAP’s efforts to extend the technical component (TC) grandfather. Finally, Dr. Price cosponsored the Local Coverage Determination Clarification Act of 2016.
