“Any nominee to a federal agency with this much power and authority over the lives of millions of Americans must be carefully scrutinized.”</div><p>Marilyn Tavenner will succeed Donald Berwick as administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, following Berwick’s resignation, a month ahead the expiration of his temporary appointment at the year’s end.</p> <p>Tavenner takes the helm of the agency, which administers Medicare, Medicaid, and the Children's Health Insurance Program, at a critical time. Many of many of the key provisions of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act remain to be implemented.</p> <p>While Berwick’s role in healthcare reform secured him broad support among Senate Democrats, his 2010 recess appointment by President Barack Obama angered many Republicans senators, who vowed to block his path to confirmation. Tavenner, who served as acting administrator of CMS between February 2010 and July 2010, has so far drawn a more metered response.</p> <p>“Any nominee to a federal agency with this much power and authority over the lives of millions of Americans must be carefully scrutinized,” wrote Senator Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, ranking member of the Senate Finance Committee in a statement following Tavenner’s nomination.</p> <p>Before joining CMS, Tavenner served as Virginia’s Secretary of Health and Human Resources in the administration of former Governor Tim Kaine. After almost 20 years in nursing, she also spent 13 years as CEO and in various senior executive level positions for Hospital Corporation of America.</p> <p>The American Medical Association has voiced its support for the nomination of Tavenner for CMS administrator. “We have worked extensively with her in her role as deputy administrator,” says AMA President Peter Carmel, “and she has been fair, knowledgeable and open to dialogue.”</p> <br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br>December 02, 2011<br><a href="http://www.burrillreport.com/article-obama_appoints_new_cms_chief.html">http://www.burrillreport.com/article-obama_appoints_new_cms_chief.html</a><br><br></div> </div> </div> </DIV> <div id="footer">The Burrill Report - Print version</div> </body> </html>