WASHINGTON — Confronted with Donald Trump’s unorthodox position on drug prices, the president-elect’s nominee to be secretary of health and human services on Wednesday appeared wary of proposals to allow Medicare to pursue negotiations on prescription drugs.
Congressman Tom Price, the Republican nominated by Trump to lead HHS, was asked by Democratic lawmakers whether he would agree to support empowering Medicare to negotiate prices with drug companies. After initially sidestepping those questions, he seemed to suggest that the policy would at least be considered, given Trump’s outspoken support for it, but he expressed no enthusiasm for the proposal.
Price was answering questions before the Senate health committee, which held a courtesy hearing on his nomination. Much of the early discussions focused on repealing the Affordable Care Act and Price’s alleged conflicts of interest in his health care investments.
This article is exclusive to STAT+ subscribers
Unlock this article — plus in-depth analysis, newsletters, premium events, and networking platform access.
Already have an account? Log in
Already have an account? Log in
To submit a correction request, please visit our Contact Us page.
STAT encourages you to share your voice. We welcome your commentary, criticism, and expertise on our subscriber-only platform, STAT+ Connect