Rep. Tom Price (R-Ga.) was confirmed today to be Secretary of Health and Human Services.
Dr. Price earned his medical degree from the University of Michigan, did his surgical residency at Emory University and served as medical director of the Orthopedic Clinic at Grady Memorial Hospital in Atlanta. All are 340B providers.[ms-protect-content id=”2799″]
“We very much look forward to working with Dr. Price and his staff,” said Ted Slafsky, 340B Health President and Chief Executive Officer. “The 340B program is vital to the hospitals that care for underserved patients across America every day. We appreciate that he knows the program well and wish him the best in this new endeavor.”
Dr. Price led a bipartisan letter from Georgia lawmakers to the Health Resources and Services Administration in late 2015 reinforcing concerns about the proposed 340B mega-guidance, which HRSA recently withdrew.
“We are concerned that new requirements may unintentionally place medically vulnerable patients at risk by jeopardizing continued and meaningful participation in the 340B program,” wrote Rep. Price and his colleagues in their letter, the Capitol Hill publication Congressional Quarterly Healthbeat News reported.
The letter, led by Dr. Price and Rep. John Lewis (D-GA), said: “Consistent with Congress’ intent regarding the establishment of the 340B Program, these funds make it possible to stretch scarce resources to expand access to comprehensive medical, clinical and supportive services.”
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