HHS Secretary Price Resigns
On Sept. 30, 2017, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary (HHS), Tom Price, resigned amid multiple federal inquiries and growing criticism of his use of private and government planes for travel. Price is the first Cabinet Secretary in the Trump Administration to step down. In his resignation letter, Price expressed regret that "recent events" had distracted from efforts to overhaul the health care system.
The White House has asked Deputy Assistant Health Secretary Don Wright to serve as acting secretary of the agency, which has an annual budget of $1.15 trillion and includes the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the National Institutes of Health (NIH), and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Senate Democrats announced they are preparing for a potential confirmation fight over Price’s successor, saying that the next HHS secretary must not be in favor of undermining the Affordable Care Act.
Impact on General Dentistry: The White House has not officially commented on potential candidates for the HHS Secretary position. The AGD will continue to monitor and report on any developments as they are announced.
The White House has asked Deputy Assistant Health Secretary Don Wright to serve as acting secretary of the agency, which has an annual budget of $1.15 trillion and includes the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the National Institutes of Health (NIH), and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Senate Democrats announced they are preparing for a potential confirmation fight over Price’s successor, saying that the next HHS secretary must not be in favor of undermining the Affordable Care Act.
Impact on General Dentistry: The White House has not officially commented on potential candidates for the HHS Secretary position. The AGD will continue to monitor and report on any developments as they are announced.