Sen. Reed to oppose Trump’s pick to lead Health, Human Services

Feb. 09--PROVIDENCE, R.I. -- With the future of Medicare, Medicaid and the Affordable Care Act on the line, U.S. Sen. Jack Reed has declared his intent to vote against President Trump's pick to head the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services -- Republican Congressman Tom Price of Georgia -- when the orthopedist's nomination comes before the full Senate for a vote later this week.

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Democrat Reed's unrelated reasons for opposing Price stemmed from his role as House Budget Committee Chairman "where he has backed budgets and policies that would end the Medicare guarantee to seniors and transform it into a voucher-like program."

If Price were given free rein to do that, it would appear -- at face value -- that the pursuit would place him at odds with Trump who promised, throughout the course of the 2016 election, to protect or save both Social Security and Medicare.

According to PolitiFact, Price has introduced a plan to repeal and replace Obamacare every legislative session since 2009. His proposal would provide tax credits instead to help pay for private insurance, and allow people to opt out of Medicare and Medicaid and choose the tax credits to purchase private plans instead.

After Trump's election, Price again expressed optimism that lawmakers could overhaul Medicare in 2017.

"While the stated goal (of health care reform) remains noble, as a physician, I can attest that nothing has had a greater negative effect on the delivery of health care than the federal government's intrusion into medicine through Medicare," Price wrote in a 2009 column in Politico that advocated for "a third way that puts patients in charge."

Before Trump's inauguration, a Trump transition team spokesman -- confronted with apparent discrepancy between Trump's promises and Price's words -- told PolitiFact that Price has long been a champion for strengthening Medicare for both current and future beneficiaries."

But Rhode island's Reed, choosing to take Price at his own word, said: "I strongly oppose Congressman Price's nomination to lead the Department of Health and Human Services. He has the wrong prescription for seniors and our health care system.

"If he follows through with his plans to dismantle the Affordable Care Act and make unprecedented changes to Medicare and Medicaid, it could be hazardous to all Americans' health. His proposals would turn back the clock and go back to a time when insurance companies could deny coverage to those who need it the most and charge older Americans and women more for coverage.

"In addition to repealing the ACA, he has proposed cutting Medicare by $500 billion and raising the eligibility age. He has also proposed cutting $2 trillion from Medicaid, shifting costs to states and leaving seniors and working families without coverage.

"Taken together," Reed said, "the nominations of Congressman Price to lead HHS and Congressman Mick Mulvaney to head the Office of Management and Budget could cut a significant hole in our nation's social safety net."

A member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, Reed said: "I will vigorously oppose any attempts to gut programs that working families and our seniors rely on."

Rhode Island's other senator, Sen. Sheldon Whiteouse, D-R.I., voiced his own concerns about Price earlier, when the nominee faced a confirmation hearing by the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee. Among them: his attempts to "voucherize" Medicare, "which would gradually unload costs onto seniors while eroding their benefits.

"He needed to tell the American people they could depend on him to faithfully administer Medicare and keep the sacred promise we've made to our seniors of a dignified retirement with access to good health care. He did not."

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