Carper Statement on Confirmation of Azar as HHS Secretary

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Tom Carper (D-Del.) released the following statement after voting to confirm Alex Azar to serve as secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).

“While I continue to have concerns about his perspectives on Medicaid and the Affordable Care Act, I believe Alex Azar is qualified to lead HHS. In his conversations with me, Mr. Azar said he shared one of my main goals of transforming our current health care system, which can often lead to mistreatment and overuse, to one that rewards health care providers based on the quality of care patients receive. We should reward doctors, hospitals and pharmaceutical companies for making people well, not for the number of procedures done, hospitalizations required or drugs prescribed.

“We have to stay focused on this transition if we are to strengthen Medicare and Medicaid, and more important, improve the health of all Americans. I intend to monitor Mr. Azar’s actions as Secretary to ensure he follows through on his promises to me to work constructively to ensure every American has access to high-quality, affordable health care, and I expect his staff and him to engage with my staff and me frequently to make progress on this critical effort.” 

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