New chairman of House health panel vows to take on ObamaCare

Rep. Pat Tiberi (R-Ohio) on Wednesday was tapped to lead the influential health panel of the House Ways and Means Committee, the latest move in the House GOP’s leadership shuffle this fall.

Tiberi will replace Rep. Kevin Brady (R-Texas), who was recently named chairman of the full committee. Brady and Tiberi, who was the fourth-ranking Republican on the committee, had both been contenders for the top spot.

In a statement announcing his new post on Wednesday, the Ohio Republican was quick to take aim at ObamaCare.

“As chairman, I plan to work with my colleagues to dismantle detrimental policies in Obamacare and reduce the impact on seniors, patients, employers, and providers,” Tiberi said.

Tiberi has repeatedly voted to repeal ObamaCare and has specifically attacked the medical device tax and the Cadillac tax. He has also co-sponsored legislation to eliminate the reinsurance fee, which is also known as the “belly button tax” because it charges for each person covered under a policy.

He also pledged to make Medicare “more efficient and effective,” focusing on a policy area that Brady has already said he will prioritize as chairman.

Brady, who served as health subcommittee chairman since 2013, said this fall he was planning a two-year effort to reform Medicare. That blueprint, he said, would ultimately change the way people pay into the program by introducing “premium-supported” plans.

Tiberi previously lead the committee’s trade panel and had been expected to succeed Brady on the health panel.