Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare

Secretary of Health and Human Services of the United States of America
Seal of the Department of Health and Human Services
Flag of the Secretary of Health and Human Services
Incumbent Tom Price since February 10, 2017
United States Department of Health and Human Services
Style	Mr. Secretary
Member of	Cabinet
Reports to	The President
Seat	Washington, D.C.
Appointer	The President with Senate advice and consent
Term length	No fixed term
Constituting instrument	Reorganization Plan No. 1 of 1953 67 Stat. 631 42 U.S.C. § 3501
Precursor	Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare
Formation	August 3, 1979
First holder	Patricia Roberts Harris
Succession	Twelfth
Deputy	Deputy Secretary of Health and Human Services
Salary	Executive Schedule, level 1
Website	www.hhs.gov

The United States Secretary of Health and Human Services is the head of the United States Department of Health and Human Services, concerned with health matters. The Secretary is a member of the President's Cabinet. The office was formerly .

In 1979, the Department of Health, Education, and Welfare was renamed the Department of Health and Human Services, and its education functions and Rehabilitation Services Administration were transferred to the new Department of Education.Patricia Roberts Harris headed the department before and after it was renamed.

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.

Under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act the role of the Secretary has been greatly expanded.

Current secretary Tom Price was confirmed by the U.S. Senate on February 10, 2017.

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.