Thomas Edmunds "Tom" Price (born October 8, 1954) is an American physician and Republican politician known for his work on health policy and fiscal matters. A trained orthopedic surgeon, he entered elective politics in the early 2000s and represented Georgia's 6th congressional district in the U.S. House of Representatives from 2005 until 2017. In February 2017 he was confirmed as the 23rd Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), a role he held until his resignation in September 2017.

Political and legislative career

Price was first elected to Congress in 2004 and served six full terms. During his time in the House he chaired conservative groups and Republican leadership panels, and he played a prominent role in debates over federal spending and health-care reform. His congressional service included leadership positions focused on policy formation within the Republican caucus.

Medical background and education

Before politics, Price trained and worked as an orthopedic surgeon. He completed his medical education and surgical training and practiced medicine in Georgia. His clinical background shaped much of his legislative agenda, particularly on topics related to Medicare, Medicaid and medical regulation, where he argued for market-based approaches and greater choice for patients.

Policy priorities and positions

Price advocated for changes to the Affordable Care Act and favored alternatives grounded in private-market mechanisms, health savings accounts, and state flexibility for Medicaid. He emphasized fiscal restraint, regulatory rollbacks and policies that, in his view, would increase competition and consumer control over health care.

  • Support for repealing or replacing the Affordable Care Act
  • Promotion of market-based health reforms and tax-related incentives
  • Advocacy for state flexibility in Medicaid

HHS tenure and controversy

Confirmed as Secretary of Health and Human Services in February 2017, Price sought to advance the administration's priorities on health-care changes and regulatory reform. His tenure was short-lived: in late 2017 reporting about his use of private and military aircraft for official travel prompted ethics questions and funding concerns. Amid mounting criticism and inquiries, he resigned from the cabinet post on September 29, 2017.

Price's career illustrates the intersection of medical practice and public policy, and his time in office continues to be cited in discussions about health-care reform, ethics rules for public officials, and the role of clinicians in legislative leadership. For more detail on his congressional service and roles, see his record as a U.S. Representative for Georgia's 6th district (biography and voting record).

  • Born: October 8, 1954
  • Profession: Orthopedic surgeon, politician
  • Congress: U.S. Representative, GA-6 (2005–2017)
  • Cabinet: Secretary of Health and Human Services (Feb–Sept 2017)