Rep. Price Is a Dangerous Pick to Lead Nation’s Healthcare System
Despite the immense gains Latinos have made under the Affordable Care Act (ACA), the U.S. Senate voted to confirm an outspoken enemy of the landmark law, Rep. Tom Price (R-Ga.), to lead the Department of Health and Human Services. Given his well-known animosity toward providing affordable care to more Americans, we are very disappointed in the result of the final vote. We will be vigilant in monitoring his agency, and we’ll hold him accountable for his actions as secretary.
“Rep. Price has a dangerous track record of championing legislation that would take health coverage away from many Americans – including millions of Latinos,” said NCLR President and CEO Janet Murguía. “This includes championing efforts to repeal the ACA, along with efforts to cut Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program.”
More than four million Latinos have received health coverage since the ACA was implemented. For many, this is the first time in their lives they have had any coverage at all. Thanks to the sweeping health care law, the uninsured rate for Latinos dropped dramatically by 33 percent. Efforts to undermine the law, which Dr. Price has dubbed as a failure, would severely jeopardize these gains.
“We will hold Rep. Price accountable for improving access to coverage and care for all Americans, and we stand ready to safeguard the health and well-being of our communities if he does not,” Murguía concluded.
