Dr. Tom Price, the 6 term Representative from the suburban Atlanta 6th Congressional District is a veteran health-care policy maven. He is well versed in all aspects of health care and has been a vocal critic of the Affordable Care Act (ACA). He has produced a comprehensive GOP alternative in the form of the 242 page “Empowering Patients First” Act. Among his proposals are tax credits to purchase health insurance based on age rather than income as well as tax credit incentives to opt out of Medicare and Medicaid in favor of private insurance. He has also proposed expansion of Health Savings Accounts (HSA) as well as allowing interstate health insurance sales.1
Dr. Price voted in favor of the bipartisan Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act (MACRA) which enjoyed support from the AMA. However he has been critical of both the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services and the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation. His major objection was the requirement that doctors and hospital participate in bundled payment models. He has been very vocal in his concern that the revamped payment models amount to a hostile take-over of clinical decision-making as well as possible detrimental effects on the doctor-patient relationship.2
As the GOP uses its control of both the legislative and executive branches of government to supplant the ACA, it is Dr. Price will be the head of the agency that will write the regulations that will enable the changes that will take place. It will be very interesting to see how things develop.
