Neeeeeeeeeext

Donald Trump has chosen a prominent critic of Obamacare as his secretary of health and human services.

  Guardian

Of course.

Congressman Tom Price of Georgia, an orthopedic surgeon who has long been a leading congressional voice in opposition to Barack Obama’s healthcare reform legislation.

I didn't think much of it myself.

Last week, Price said that whatever Republicans do to replace Obama’s healthcare law will bear a “significant resemblance” to a 2015 measure that was vetoed by the president. That bill would have gutted some of the health care law’s main features: Medicaid expansion, subsidies to help middle-class Americans buy private policies, the tax penalties for individuals who refused to get coverage and several taxes to support coverage expansion.

[...]

Price insisted that Republicans can keep the protections for those with existing medical conditions without mandating that all individuals carry coverage or pay a penalty to support an expanded insurance pool.

And while you're at it, you can get rid of that penalty for Medicare applicants who didn't opt for private insurance drug coverage when they turned 65.

Price said Republicans want to address “the real cost drivers” of healthcare price spikes, which he said were not necessarily sicker patients, but a heavy regulatory burden, taxes and lawsuits against medical professionals.

Oh, brother. Deregulation has always helped the middle class, right?

In addition, Indiana health policy consultant Seema Verma [founder and CEO of a health policy consulting firm] was chosen to become administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.

Verma, an Indiana resident, is best known for her work on Medicaid issues and her close ties to Vice President-elect Mike Pence.

  Politico

Oh swell.

Through her consulting firm SVC Inc., Verma has worked on other high-profile Medicaid expansion proposals for Republican governors. That includes Kentucky, where Republican Gov. Matt [...] Bevin's plan includes a work requirement as a condition of receiving benefits and lockout periods for failure to pay.

Wow. The rest of you will have a new Pence-influenced health care plan: prayer.

...but hey, do what you want...you will anyway.