Alex Azar was confirmed as the 24th Secretary of the Health and Human Services on Wednesday, about four months after Tom Price's abrupt departure.

In a news roundup, POLITICO's Adam Cancryn, Paul Demko and Dan Diamond discuss Azar's confirmation, what his priorities are and what's next for the agency (starts at 2:20).

Then after the break, listen to Dan's interview with Rod Hochman, CEO of Providence St. Joseph Health, one of the nation's largest hospital systems, where they discuss care delivery, health care venture capital and the hospital business model (starts at 21:45). The conversation was recorded at the J.P. Morgan Healthcare Conference earlier this month.

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Stories referenced on the podcast:

Adam's story on Alex Azar's confirmation: https://www.politico.com/story/2018/01/24/alex-azar-secretary-health-confirmed-trump-nominee-365471

Dan's story on the religious activists on the rise at HHS: https://www.politico.com/story/2018/01/22/trump-religious-activists-hhs-351735

Paul's Pro story on the latest ACA enrollment figures: https://www.politicopro.com/health-care/article/2018/01/stagnant-enrollment-in-state-exchanges-masks-shake-up-in-marketplace-behavior-292657

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