<P> Nominations to the office of Secretary of HHS are referred to the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee and the Finance Committee, which has jurisdiction over Medicare and Medicaid, before confirmation is considered by the full United States Senate . </P> <P> Under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act the role of the Secretary has been greatly expanded . </P> <P> Donald Trump selected then - Congressman Tom Price to be the 23rd Secretary of the Health and Human Services Department . Price was confirmed by the U.S. Senate on February 10, 2017 and resigned on September 29, 2017 . Trump then named Don J. Wright, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Health and Director of the Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, as acting Secretary until Deputy Secretary Eric Hargan was sworn in on October 10, 2017 . On November 13, 2017, Trump nominated former pharmaceutical executive Alex Azar to fill the position permanently . Azar's confirmation hearing before the Senate Finance Committee took place on January 9, 2018, and on January 24, 2018, Azar was confirmed by the U.S. Senate by a vote of 55 to 43 . Azar was sworn in on January 29, 2018 . </P> <P> The duties of the secretary revolve around human conditions and concerns in the United States . This includes advising the president on matters of health, welfare, and income security programs . The Secretary strives to administer the Department of Health and Human Services to carry out approved programs and make the public aware of the objectives of the department . </P>

Who heads the department of health and human services