France24, Nov. 29, 2016 – US president-elect Donald Trump on Tuesday named an outspoken critic of Obamacare to head up the country’s health and human services, a decision Democrats fear could undo years of hard-won reforms.
Republican Representative Tom Price, an orthopedic surgeon from Georgia, will be Trump’s Health and Human Services (HHS) secretary, and consultant Seema Verma will lead the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, a powerful agency that oversees government health programs and insurance standards.
Trump cast Price and Verma as a “dream team” to help him once he takes office on January 20 with his campaign pledge to repeal Obamacare, Democratic President Barack Obama’s signature health law formally known as the Affordable Care Act.
Of Price, Trump said in a statement: “He is exceptionally qualified to shepherd our commitment to repeal and replace Obamacare and bring affordable and accessible healthcare to every American.”
Price said there was much work to be done “to ensure we have a healthcare system that works for patients, families, and doctors”.