Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Top Senator Expects Price Confirmation To Come Around Middle Of February
President-elect Donald Trump said at a news conference Wednesday in New York City that a plan to replace the Affordable Care Act would come once Secretary of Health and Human Services nominee Rep. Tom Price of Georgia wins confirmation. But the chairman of a key committee involved in both the repeal-replace process and in confirming Price said his confirmation may not take place until around the President鈥檚 Day recess in February. (Lesniewski, 1/11)
In other news about the incoming administration 鈥
The president-elect met at Trump Tower with聽Dr. Francis Collins, the current NIH director, and聽Congressman Andy Harris of Maryland, who has expressed an interest in serving in the administration. Collins, who has led the agency for eight years under President Barack Obama, previously told STAT he would be willing to stay on as director if asked by Trump. Newt Gingrich, the former House speaker who has advised Trump over the last year, also told STAT that Collins was under serious consideration. (Scott, 1/11)
On Tuesday, Donald Trump met with Robert F. Kennedy Jr., an environmental lawyer and activist, who also happens to be an outspoken vaccine conspiracy theorist. After the meeting, Kennedy told reporters it went 鈥渧ery well,鈥 and said that Trump 鈥渁sked me to chair a commission on vaccine safety and scientific integrity.鈥 He also said that Trump called him to ask for the meeting. (Beck, 1/10)