HHS Nominee Alex Azar Approved by Senate Panel

The Senate Finance Committee voted 15-12 to approve Alex Azar as head of Health and Human Services, sending his nomination to a final Senate floor vote.

Azar, who has already served in high positions in the HHS during the Bush administration, has said he will focus on tackling high drug prices, believing the system’s incentives currently reward higher prices and don’t encourage lower ones.

He is expected to win the final vote and nomination, as Republicans control the Senate 51-49 and are likely to gather the required 51 votes. Two Democrats have also said they would vote for him to lead HHS.