President Appoints Dr. Donald Berwick CMS Administrator
On July 7, President Obama appointed Dr. Donald Berwick the new administrator of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). The president made this “recess” appointment while Congress is out of session, as Republican members threatened to derail the nomination and turn the confirmation hearings into a debate on healthcare reform. Dr. Berwick is a pediatrician and Harvard professor, widely renowned for his leadership in quality of care as founder and head of the Institute for Healthcare Improvement. Dr. Berwick’s nomination was widely supported by healthcare organizations, but decried by conservatives who claim he supports rationing of care. CMS has been without a permanent leader since 2006, and Dr. Berwick’s appointment is valid through the end of 2011. The White House indicated a sense of urgency for Dr. Berwick to lead the implementation of the Affordable Care Act at CMS, which is tasked with creating regulations and programs to carry out the majority of its provisions.
Eileen Shannon Carlson, RN, JD
Tags: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), Dr. Donald Berwick, June 2010
