As medical, health and public service professionals and educators, we oppose the nomination of Tom Price to become the next secretary of health and human services.

Instead of working to protect and promote access to high-quality healthcare for all families and children, U.S. Rep. Tom Price has instead worked to repeal the Affordable Care Act, and replace it with plans that would jeopardize coverage for millions, weaken current protections for patients with existing health conditions, and threaten funding for hospitals and clinics.

Price’s plan would result in giving inadequate vouchers to patients to buy insurance in unregulated markets, without the ACA protections and coverage for essential services. Price opposes the inclusion of women’s health services as an ACA benefit, and fails to provide protection against discrimination toward the LGBT community. Price’s policies and proposals include the privatization of Medicare, and the dismantling of Medicaid as a safety net for families and children.

Our next Health and Human Services secretary should embody the mission of the HHS, to ensure high-quality healthcare for all families and children. We urge our senators—Republicans and Democrats—to oppose the nomination of Tom Price as secretary of HHS.