[{"innerBlocks":[],"name":"core\/freeform","postId":2782,"blockType":{"name":"core\/freeform","keywords":[],"attributes":{"content":{"type":"string","source":"raw"},"lock":{"type":"object"}},"providesContext":[],"usesContext":[],"selectors":[],"supports":{"className":false,"customClassName":false,"reusable":false},"styles":[],"variations":[],"apiVersion":3,"title":"Classic","description":"Use the classic WordPress editor.","category":"text"},"originalContent":"(Bloomberg)\u2014President Donald Trump is expected to name former drug industry executive Alex Azar to lead the Department of Health and Human Services, according to people familiar with the matter.

Azar, who worked at Eli Lilly & Co., would be the administration\u2019s point person for running\u2014or dismantling\u2014Obamacare, the health program enacted by Trump\u2019s predecessor that insures millions of Americans. He will also oversee Medicare and Medicaid, along with dozens of public health programs and sub-agencies. Trump is in Asia for an extended trip and could still change his mind before a replacement is officially named.

At Lilly, Azar ran U.S. operations. Trump has been highly critical of the drug industry, saying that companies are \u201cgetting away with murder\u201d and threatening to use the federal government\u2019s buying power to bring down prices. However, he\u2019s taken no concrete action yet to do so.

Azar left Lilly in January, several months after another senior executive was named to succeed then-CEO John Lechleiter.

Before spending a decade in Indianapolis-based Lilly\u2019s executive ranks, Azar was a deputy secretary under former George W. Bush\u2019s HHS secretary Michael Leavitt. A lawyer by training, Azar previously clerked for Antonin Scalia on the Supreme Court.

Azar takes over after Trump\u2019s first HHS secretary, Tom Price, resigned in September after his extensive use of private and military jets at taxpayer expense was revealed. Azar, 50, must be approved by the Senate.

Azar has been an advocate for more state flexibility under Obamacare, something Republicans have pushed for in their efforts to repeal it, as well as in a seemingly stalled bipartisan bill to fund insurer subsidies that help Americans afford health costs. As secretary, Azar would have broad authority over many aspects of the program.

\u201cI\u2019m not one to say many good things about Obamacare, but one of the nice things in it is it does give a tremendous amount authority to the secretary of HHS,\u201d Azar said during an interview with Bloomberg TV in June. \u201cThere are still changes that can be made to make it work a little better than it has been.\u201d

The Trump administration has slashed funding for advertising Obamacare and cut the budgets of \u201cnavigators\u201d who help people enrolling in plans understand their options. Open enrollment is under way now and runs through December 15.

The administration also released rules in October that let employers opt out of providing plans that cover birth control, weakening an Obamacare requirement as part of a wider push to expand religious freedom. Trump also signed an executive order the same month that lets insurers sell short-term plans\u2014curtailed under Obamacare\u2014that are cheaper and offer fewer benefits.

\u201cHe understands healthcare, he understands the regulatory process, and he\u2019s skilled in his management,\u201d Leavitt said by phone last month. Leavitt was involved in the Trump team\u2019s transition into the White House but said he hadn\u2019t been directly involved in the vetting of Azar. \u201cHe\u2019d be an able pilot.\u201d","saveContent":"(Bloomberg)\u2014President Donald Trump is expected to name former drug industry executive Alex Azar to lead the Department of Health and Human Services, according to people familiar with the matter.

Azar, who worked at Eli Lilly & Co., would be the administration\u2019s point person for running\u2014or dismantling\u2014Obamacare, the health program enacted by Trump\u2019s predecessor that insures millions of Americans. He will also oversee Medicare and Medicaid, along with dozens of public health programs and sub-agencies. Trump is in Asia for an extended trip and could still change his mind before a replacement is officially named.

At Lilly, Azar ran U.S. operations. Trump has been highly critical of the drug industry, saying that companies are \u201cgetting away with murder\u201d and threatening to use the federal government\u2019s buying power to bring down prices. However, he\u2019s taken no concrete action yet to do so.

Azar left Lilly in January, several months after another senior executive was named to succeed then-CEO John Lechleiter.

Before spending a decade in Indianapolis-based Lilly\u2019s executive ranks, Azar was a deputy secretary under former George W. Bush\u2019s HHS secretary Michael Leavitt. A lawyer by training, Azar previously clerked for Antonin Scalia on the Supreme Court.

Azar takes over after Trump\u2019s first HHS secretary, Tom Price, resigned in September after his extensive use of private and military jets at taxpayer expense was revealed. Azar, 50, must be approved by the Senate.

Azar has been an advocate for more state flexibility under Obamacare, something Republicans have pushed for in their efforts to repeal it, as well as in a seemingly stalled bipartisan bill to fund insurer subsidies that help Americans afford health costs. As secretary, Azar would have broad authority over many aspects of the program.

\u201cI\u2019m not one to say many good things about Obamacare, but one of the nice things in it is it does give a tremendous amount authority to the secretary of HHS,\u201d Azar said during an interview with Bloomberg TV in June. \u201cThere are still changes that can be made to make it work a little better than it has been.\u201d

The Trump administration has slashed funding for advertising Obamacare and cut the budgets of \u201cnavigators\u201d who help people enrolling in plans understand their options. Open enrollment is under way now and runs through December 15.

The administration also released rules in October that let employers opt out of providing plans that cover birth control, weakening an Obamacare requirement as part of a wider push to expand religious freedom. Trump also signed an executive order the same month that lets insurers sell short-term plans\u2014curtailed under Obamacare\u2014that are cheaper and offer fewer benefits.

\u201cHe understands healthcare, he understands the regulatory process, and he\u2019s skilled in his management,\u201d Leavitt said by phone last month. Leavitt was involved in the Trump team\u2019s transition into the White House but said he hadn\u2019t been directly involved in the vetting of Azar. \u201cHe\u2019d be an able pilot.\u201d","order":0,"get_parent":{},"attributes":[],"attributesType":{"content":{"type":"string","source":"raw"},"lock":{"type":"object"}},"dynamicContent":""}]

Trump expected to name ex-Lilly executive Azar as HHS Secretary

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