Trump to nominate 'star' to lead HHS
By HME News Staff
Updated Tue November 14, 2017
WASHINGTON - President Donald Trump will nominate former pharmaceutical executive and industry lobbyist Alex Azar to the top post at the Department of Health and Human Services, according to news reports.
Trump tweeted on Monday: “He will be a star for better healthcare and lower drug prices.”
The nomination follows the resignation of Trump's first HHS secretary, Tom Price. Price left HHS in September amid an investigation into his use of charter flights instead of cheaper commercial flights.
Currently, Azar is the chairman and founder of Seraphim Strategies, which provides strategic consulting and counsel on biopharmaceutical and health insurance industries. Previously, he was president of Lilly USA, an affiliate of Eli Lilly, from January 2012 to January 2017.
Azar has worked at HHS before: From 2005-07, he was a deputy secretary in the department, and from 2001-05, he was general counsel.
Azar's nomination must be approved by the Senate.
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