Tom Sullivan, Editor, Government Health IT
Tom Sullivan is the Editor of Government Health IT. Tom covers healthcare IT in all government settings, at the federal, state and local levels. He writes about industry trends and is responsible for overall coverage decisions. Follow Tom on Twitter @GovHITeditor.
Berwick to step down at CMS, Obama nominates Tavenner
WASHINGTON | November 23, 2011
After a political impasse, in which Republicans effectively blocked his Senate confirmation, Donald Berwick, MD, will step down next week as administrator of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. President Obama has nominated CMS principal deputy Marilynn Tavenner as Berwick's replacement.
Berwick will officially step down on Dec. 2, at which point Tavenner will take over as interim administrator until a Senate vote to confirm her. Tavenner has served as CMS’ principal deputy administrator and, prior to that, as the former secretary of Virginia’s health and human services department. Tavenner has also been a nurse, an executive at the Hospital Corporation of America and a trustee at the American Hospital Association.
“I’m glad the White House opted against another end run around the Senate and instead has put forward a CMS nominee that the Senate must thoroughly examine,” said U.S. Senator Orrin Hatch (R-Utah), ranking member of the Senate Finance Committee, in a statement following the news. “Any nominee to a federal agency with this much power and authority over the lives of millions of Americans must be carefully scrutinized. Republicans on the Finance Committee look forward to examining her record and gaining an understanding of her views of Medicare, Medicaid and the President’s health law.”
Berwick’s fate at CMS was essentially sealed by the 42 GOP senators who declared their opposition to his nomination.
During his time at CMS Berwick was very involved in planning and implementation of health reform, including the triple aim of improved patient-centered care that bolsters population health at a lower cost.
The Senate is expected to vote on Tavenner next year.
John Young say: Berwick "Resignation"
This is clearly a testament to poor, short-sighted politics. Nor was this a resignation. Agree or disagree with Dr. Berwick's ideology on healthcare, but clearly he was the right person, at the right time for this job -- to create a cost effective, outcome-oriented national health system (Medicare, Medicaid, CHIP, Dual-eligibles) with new innovations and reduced inefficiencies in the delivery of care. If Republicans truly are concerned with someone wielding "power over the lives of millions of Americans," please present someone better poised and prepared than Dr. Berwick. Nothing against Ms. Tavenner, but she will not be the dynamic, visionary influence that Dr. Berwick sorely brings (or brought) to this position. A shrewd, yet foolish, political tactic on behalf of the political right. What a shame!