Rep. Tom Price, an orthopedic surgeon and longtime opponent of Obamacare, is President-elect Trump's pick to lead Health and Human Services. | Getty Rep. Tom Price officially tapped to lead Health and Human Services

Rep. Tom Price, a leading Obamacare critic, is President-elect Donald Trump's choice to serve as the next secretary of HHS, his transition team announced Tuesday morning.

Price (R-Ga.), an orthopedic surgeon and House Budget Committee chairman, would help lead the Trump administration's efforts to repeal the health care law and replace it with conservative policies.

"Chairman Price, a renowned physician, has earned a reputation for being a tireless problem solver and the go-to expert on healthcare policy, making him the ideal choice to serve in this capacity," Trump said in a statement. "He is exceptionally qualified to shepherd our commitment to repeal and replace Obamacare and bring affordable and accessible healthcare to every American."

Price, a six-term congressman, authored a conservative Obamacare replacement plan and was an early Trump supporter. He's called for major changes to entitlement programs and strongly opposes abortion.

"There is much work to be done to ensure we have a healthcare system that works for patients, families, and doctors; that leads the world in the cure and prevention of illness; and that is based on sensible rules to protect the well-being of the country while embracing its innovative spirit," Price said in a statement.

A former chairman of the conservative Republican Study Committee, Price favors sweeping conservative changes to Medicare and Medicaid programs serving more than 120 million Americans. Price has supported plans to transform Medicare's open-ended entitlement into a defined contribution from the government, and he supports providing states with a block grant for Medicaid — putting states on a fixed budget with fewer requirements. Democrats say those overhauls would mean massive cuts that will hurt access to health care.

"Congressman Price has proven to be far out of the mainstream of what Americans want when it comes to Medicare, the Affordable Care Act, and Planned Parenthood," incoming Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said in a statement. "Thanks to those three programs, millions of American seniors, families, people with disabilities and women have access to quality, affordable health care."

The chairs of powerful Senate committees hailed Pence's nomination as a strong signal of Trump's plans to undo Obamacare. As Republican lawmakers debate how quickly to repeal the health care law covering 20 million people, Senate HELP Chairman Lamar Alexander said he will work with Price "to find a responsible way to replace and then repeal Obamacare."

Trump also picked Indiana health consultant Seema Verma, who has strong ties to Vice President-elect Mike Pence, to serve as administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. If confirmed, Verma will help oversee efforts to roll back Obamacare and steer Medicare and Medicaid into a conservative direction.

"I look forward to helping him tackle our nation's daunting healthcare problems in a responsible and sustainable way," Verma said in a statement.

Verma helped design Pence's Medicaid expansion model — though Pence is an Obamacare critic, as governor of Indiana he implemented the law's expansion of coverage to hundreds of thousands of low-income adults. Verma has also advised several Republican states on how to add conservative elements such as health savings accounts and employment requirements to their programs. That includes Kentucky, where Republican Gov. Matt Bevin has threatened to end the program unless the Obama administration approves his pending request.

Bevin's plan includes a work requirement as a condition of receiving benefits and temporarily locks out beneficiaries who fail to pay premiums.

Jason Millman contributed to this report.