Sanders warns HHS pick could move healthcare in ‘wrong direction’

Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) is firing a warning shot ahead of Rep. Tom Price’s first confirmation hearing, saying he fears the Georgia Republican will move healthcare in the “wrong direction” as Health and Human Services secretary.

“Representative Price’s approach is moving us in directly the wrong direction,” Sanders told reporters on Tuesday. “I have the feeling that his ideas are moving us, if implemented, in exactly the wrong direction.”

He said the proposals supported by Price would increase the number of uninsured Americans and cut subsidies to help Americans pay for insurance.

{mosads}Price is scheduled to appear before the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, which Sanders is a member of, on Wednesday for a confirmation hearing. He’ll also face the Senate Finance Committee, though that hearing has not yet been scheduled.

Price is under fire from Democrats after Monday CNN report that accused him of buying stock in a medical device company and days before introducing legislation to help that firm.

The Trump team has dismissed the allegations, noting the stocks were purchased by a broker.

Sanders sidestepped weighing in directly on that report Tuesday.

He acknowledged that lawmakers will likely ask about it this week, but said his “major concern” is Price’s overall healthcare stance.

Sanders said he read Price a tweet from Donald Trump in which the president-elect noted that he was the first GOP presidential candidate to pledge he wouldn’t cut entitlement programs, including Medicare and Medicaid. 

“I asked Representative Price whether or not Mr. Trump was going to keep his word on that issue,” Sanders told reporters. “He said he can’t speak for Mr. Trump but he expected that he will.” 

Sanders said overall, the two had a “pleasant” conversation and he pointed to support for community health centers and more primary care doctors as areas of agreement.

Democrats are expected to grill Price on Wednesday over his previous support for privatizing Medicare.

Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), another Health committee member, sent a 20-page letter to Price on Tuesday outlining her concerns.