In another cynical, partisan vote, the U.S. Senate last night confirmed Rep. Tom Price to serve as the nation’s next U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) – putting our country’s health care system at risk. This confirmation will exacerbate the deep anxiety that moms and caregivers around the country have about whether their families will be able to get the health coverage and care they need.

It is abundantly clear that Price is the wrong choice for this post. He supports the callous, irresponsible repeal of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), which imperils the health insurance that 30 million people, including four million children, rely on. Repealing the ACA also will force people with pre-existing conditions into an expensive and unnecessary fight for their lives, which will hurt families, our economy and our country. 

Price supports replacing the ACA with measures that would gut access to health insurance and make it harder for people to get the essential health services they need. His record also includes shameful votes to cut funding for Medicaid, which covers vital health services for millions of low-income children, pregnant women, people with disabilities and chronic illnesses, and the elderly, including seven in ten residents of nursing homes. While during his confirmation hearings, Price offered few details about his plans, those he did offer, like block-granting Medicaid, would lead to fewer low-income people and people with serious health problems being able to access the care they need.
 
Also deeply disturbing are the ethical lapses that have surfaced about Price, who used his powerful role in Congress to line his own pockets. It is stunning that a majority of U.S. Senators were willing to confirm a nominee with such serious ethical problems.

The country needs an HHS Secretary who has demonstrated a real commitment to improving the health of all families. Confirming Tom Price was a terrible mistake.