WASHINGTON – Kansas Gov. Kathleen Sebelius went before the full Senate Tuesday for confirmation as secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services.
Senate questioning was scheduled to begin at 10 a.m., and insiders say the debate could go on all day. A vote is expected by day’s end, and in spite of some opposition to her right-to-choose record on the abortion issue and her failure to pay $7,000 in taxes on time, Sebelius is expected to garner the 60 votes needed for confirmation.
Healthcare IT industry leaders have long been awaiting confirmation, as so many decisions hinge on the next HHS secretary. This includes a definition for “meaningful use” of healthcare information technology, which will determine whether hospitals and physician practices qualify for certain monetary incentives from the government.
Sebelius will be responsible for more than $100 billion allotted to healthcare in the stimulus package, signed into law on Feb. 17. The package includes $87 billion for Medicaid, $39 billion for COBRA and $1.1 billion for federal research on comparative healthcare effectiveness.
In testimony before the Senate Finance Committee on April 2, Sebelius said the economic stimulus package makes positive investments now that will yield health and economic dividends later.
"Through health information technology, it lays the foundation for a 21st Century system to reduce medical errors, lower healthcare costs and empower health consumers," she said. "In the next five years, HHS will set the standards for privacy and interoperability, test models and certify the technology and offer incentives for hospitals and doctors to adopt it."
Last week anti-abortion activists mounted an 11th hour campaign to derail her nomination.
Congressional Quarterly reports that Sen. Sam Brownback (R-Kan.) could be backing away from his endorsement of Sebelius because of her veto Thursday of late-term abortion legislation (S.B. 218).
If Sebelius were confirmed, it would complete the Obama Administration's cabinet.
Photo by woohoo120 obtained under Creative Commons license.
