HHS Secretary Azar Likely To Advance Medicare Drug Pricing Policies

Alex Azar's nomination clears Senate with support from five Democrats and one Independent – but not Rand Paul, R-Ky.

Alex Azar, Trump’s HHS secretary nominee, who spoke at the Senate HELP committee 11/29/17
Alex Azar testifies at his confirmation hearing before the Senate HELP Committee on Nov. 29, 2017.

Now that his nomination to be HHS secretary has cleared the full Senate, Alex Azar is likely to focus on advancing the government's development of policies to reduce drug prices in Medicare Part D and Part B.

Azar's nomination was approved by the Senate in a 55-43 vote, with support from five Democrats and one Independent. (See box.)

Only one Republican, Kentucky's Rand Paul, voted against the nomination. During Azar's confirmation hearing in the Senate Finance Committee, Paul threatened to withhold his support because of the nominee's opposition...

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