Donald Trump Taps Tom Price and Seema Verma to Shape Health Care Team, Repeal Obamacare

President-elect Donald Trump announced on Tuesday that he will nominate Rep. Tom Price of Georgia as the next secretary of Health and Human Services and that he has chosen Seema Verma, the CEO of a health policy consulting firm, to serve as administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services — a pair of announcements that gives shape to health care initiatives in his administration.

Price, an orthopedic surgeon who is chairman of the House Budget Committee, has been one of Obamacare's most outspoken critics and would be at the helm of the department — pending Senate confirmation — responsible for Trump's campaign promise to repeal and replace it.

"Chairman Price has earned a reputation for being a tireless problem solver and the go-to expert on healthcare policy, making him the ideal choice to serve in this capacity," 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. I am proud to nominate him as Secretary of Health and Human Services."

Price said his goal is to improve the health care system "based on sensible rules" that work for all parties involved.

"I am humbled by the incredible challenges that lay ahead and enthusiastic for the opportunity to be a part of solving them on behalf of the American people," said Price in the statement released by Trump’s team. "There is much work to be done to ensure we have a healthcare system that works for patients, families, and doctors; that leads the world in the cure and prevention of illness; and that is based on sensible rules to protect the well-being of the country while embracing its innovative spirit."

Trump also picked Verma, the founder and CEO of a health policy consulting firm who has close ties with Vice President-elect Mike Pence, to serve as the administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.

Trump said that Verma "has decades of experience advising on Medicare and Medicaid policy and helping states navigate our complicated systems." He added: "Together, Chairman Price and Seema Verma are the dream team that will transform our healthcare system for the benefit of all Americans.”

Verma said she aims to help the administration "tackle our nation's daunting healthcare problems in a responsible and sustainable way."

Verma, who is an Indiana resident, designed Pence's Obamacare Medicaid expansion model and has advised several Republican-led states on health savings accounts and employment requirements — both considered elements of conservative health care reform.

Throughout the campaign season, Trump vowed to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act of 2010 starting on his first day in office but has offered no details on what would take the ACA's place.

"In some areas, they’re paying 60, 70 and 80 percent more than they were paying last year,” Trump said at a rally in October. “I called it when it first came out. It’s only getting worse, and not only for you, for the country. Because our country can’t afford it, you can’t afford it. We’re going to have great health care at a fraction of the cost, and you watch. It’ll happen."

However, after speaking with President Obama, Trump said he would favor keeping some parts of the law, including barring insurers from denying coverage because of preexisting conditions and allowing children to stay on their parents' health care plans until the age of 26.

On Sunday, Pence appeared to contradict that position, saying that the transition team is working with Republicans in Congress to overturn the law.

“Decisions have been made by the president-elect that he wants to focus out of the gate on repealing Obamacare and beginning the process of replacing Obamacare with the kind of free-market solutions that he campaigned on,” Pence said.

Democratic Senate leader Chuck Schumer responded to Pence's statement, setting up a battle to come: “We're not going to repeal or help [Trump] repeal Obamacare.”

Photo credit: Gage Skidmore via Flickr Commons