Hospitals, Doctors, Patients Support HHS Secretary Nominee Alex Azar—“Uniquely Qualified,” “Steady Hand,” “Tested Leader,” “Superior Credentials”

American Hospital Association: “We welcome the nomination of Alex Azar to be Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services. We are confident that his extensive background in business, health care and medicine distinguishes him as a uniquely qualified candidate for the vacancy. The expertise garnered from his career in the private sector and prior public service at HHS as Deputy Secretary will prove to be particularly valuable in addressing the serious challenges facing our nation's health care system today. We look forward to working side-by-side with him to achieve our mission of advancing the health of the patients and communities we are privileged to serve.”

Federation of American Hospitals: “We welcome and support the nomination of Alex Azar for HHS Secretary. His years of experience in government service and the health care sector makes him uniquely qualified to confront the challenges facing patients, families, and caregivers. I have worked with Mr. Azar in the past and think he is the perfect pick for the times. His steady hand of leadership will be critically important as the deliberations over health reform and the many health care quality and cost issues proceed. We encourage the US Senate to confirm Mr. Azar quickly. We look forward to working with him constructively on the future of American health care delivery and financing.”

Former Deputy HHS Secretary Doctor Roger Klein: “I applaud President Trump’s nomination of Alex Azar to lead the Department of Health and Human Services. As a former Deputy HHS Secretary and attorney with extensive private sector business experience, he brings the necessary skills and expertise to confront the disruption and dislocation the Affordable Care Act has caused. Alex Azar’s appointment will add stability to HHS, and help improve healthcare for millions of Americans.”

Advanced Medical Technology Association: “The President has made a smart choice; Alex is a tested leader in the hard-fought battles to advance health care within the Department and across the country. I saw that leadership and character firsthand when I served with Alex at HHS. His expertise across a broad spectrum of issues – from public health to medical technology and beyond – will serve the nation well…I urge the Senate to confirm Alex quickly, and pledge our support in helping him and the Department fulfill its mission.”

Association of American Medical Colleges: “We congratulate Alex Azar on his nomination as secretary of HHS. In this position, he will oversee many of the federal agencies that play a crucial role in how the nation’s medical schools and teaching hospitals are able to educate and train the next generation of doctors, care for the nation’s most vulnerable and complex patients, and conduct medical research that brings hope to countless Americans. Upon his confirmation, we look forward to working with Mr. Azar on improving the health of all through high-quality clinical care, groundbreaking medical research, and a robust, diverse physician workforce.”

National Community Pharmacists Association: "We congratulate Alex Azar on his nomination to be the next HHS Secretary. His background in the pharmaceutical industry means he brings an understanding of supply chain issues and players that will be helpful to him in this role. We look forward to sharing independent community pharmacists' insights about how to make the system more transparent, increase patient access to prescription drugs, and reduce health care spending and drive better health outcomes in the process. NCPA and the 22,000 independent community pharmacies it represents will continue to push for common-sense, market-based, bipartisan reforms in the delivery of critical prescription medications and health care services to Americans."

America’s Health Insurance Plans: “Congratulations to Alex Azar on his nomination to serve as Secretary of Health and Human Services. He has the experience and expertise to combine the best from the private sector with the best of our public programs to make health care work for every American. We look forward to working with him upon his confirmation to reduce health care costs, increase access, and strengthen essential programs that millions of Americans rely on for their coverage and care.”

Susan B. Anthony List: “SBA List welcomes President Trump’s nomination of Alex Azar as Secretary of HHS. For weeks now we have been working with our allies at the White House on filling this important vacancy and we believe Alex will do a great job of implementing the President’s pro-life agenda.”

National Organization for Rare Disorders: “In our view, Alex Azar brings superior credentials for this job, based on his extensive management experiences and deep understanding of our healthcare system.  He understands the needs of the patient community and particularly the challenges of the rare disease community and the urgency of orphan drug development.  While we inevitably will discuss and debate policies that affect the rare disease community, what we value most is a Secretary who will listen carefully and decide thoughtfully.  Alex Azar meets this test.”

The AIDS Institute: “As both a former HHS Deputy Secretary and General Counsel, together with his private sector experience, Alex Azar has the knowledge, expertise, and leadership to oversee our Nation’s health response. While we may not share some of the Trump Administration’s objectives relative to such issues as the Affordable Care Act and Medicaid, we believe a practical problem-solver like Mr. Azar is the right person for the job for this Administration. He has been a dedicated public servant with additional leadership in the health industry who understands the importance of meeting the health needs of patients. He also values the role of the patient voice in decision-making.”

###