Price says Sebelius committed to reviewing GOP health plans

Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius has pledged to review GOP healthcare reform proposals, Rep. Tom Price (R-Ga.) said Thursday.

In a statement about a meeting between the secretary and Price, the head of the conservative Republican Study Committee (RSC), praised Sebelius for taking the meeting, and said it would contribute to the administration stopping to "muzzle Republican ideas."

"As the administration has repeatedly misled the public by denying the existence of Republican health care solutions, it was encouraging to hear the Secretary acknowledge that Republicans are providing constructive ideas," Price said. "Her commitment to further review our health care solutions is an important step."

Price said that a consensus that the current state of healthcare is unacceptable emerged, and praised the secretary for a "candid" discussion with the Republican lawmakers, particularly about their concerns with plans before Congress.

"Having personally delivered our proposals to the Secretary, we hope that the administration will now put to rest the misinformation campaign to muzzle Republican ideas," Price warned, though. "Only time will tell if the administration is sincere in accepting other ideas, but if there is any hope for bipartisan solutions on health care reform, meetings such as this one must become the norm rather than the exception."