Last Updated Jan 18, 2017 11:34 AM EST
Donald Trump\u2019s pick to lead the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Georgia Rep. Tom Price, is facing questions from the Senate\u2019s Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee Wednesday morning.
Price\u2019s confirmation hearing comes just as Republicans are attempting a repeal of the Affordable Care Act , President Obama\u2019s landmark healthcare legislation. Recently, GOP lawmakers have split on how to go about with a \u201crepeal and replace\u201d of Obamacare, however. Debate has shown some legislators are wary of destabilizing insurance markets and sending premiums skyrocketing if they repealed the law without a replacement.
Just as Donald Trump faces his own potential conflicts of interest , Price, a former orthopedic surgeon, will also undergo scrutiny over his own stock trades and investments involving health care companies.
In a letter to Price ahead of his hearing, Democratic Sen. Elizabeh Warren of Massachusetts wrote, \u201cYou made these trades while actively sponsoring, cosponsoring or voting on dozens of bills that could affect these companies.\u201d
He\u2019ll confront these concerns just as some senators are calling for an investigation into those investments.
Follow along with our live updates below.
Sanders pointed out that Mr. Trump claimed repeatedly he wouldn\u2019t cut Medicare during his presidential campaign, but the HHS nominee has been in favor of making deep cuts to the policy.
\u201cI haven\u2019t had extensive\u201d conversations with Mr. Trump about social security cuts, Price told Sanders. But the Georgia Republican said \u201cI have no reason to believe that position has been changed.\u201d
\u201cI believe it\u2019s inappropriate,\u201d Murray said.
According to Murray, Price told her in a meeting that Republican Rep. Chris Collins of New York gave him a stock tip on an Australian biotech firm. But Price says Collins had simply told him about the firm.
He expressed robust support for the \u201cpromise\u201d of Medicare to seniors.
Later, under questioning from Tennessee Sen. Lamar Alexander, Price suggests that the Affordable Care Act will be replaced piecemeal.
Of the ACA, Price said, \u201cno one is interested in pulling the rug out from anybody\u201d about potential losses of health insurance under Obamacare repeal.
Price adds that the Republicans\u2019 repeal and replace plan will not have people \u201close coverage.\u201d He also acknowledged that the ACA has had some benefits, saying that \u201cthe coverage has certainly improved.\u201d
He laid out plans for Congress to focus heavily at the start on reshaping the marketplace for individual policies and on changing Medicaid, which covers low-income qualifiers.
Price said the initial legislation should not change Medicare, which covers older people.
Sen. Patty Murray, the ranking Democrat on the HELP committee, said in a statement at the beginning of the hearing that Price will face tough questions on Obamacare and his own investments and stock trades involving health care companies. Murray also voiced her concerns on how Price\u2019s policy stances could impact women\u2019s access to health care, including access to Planned Parenthood.
Of Price\u2019s House vote last week easing the passage of legislation in the future that could completely nix Obamacare, Murray said people in her home state \u201chave tears in their eyes\u201d at the possibility of losing their heath care coverage.<\/p>\n

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