Wednesday, November 30th, 2011 - 19:37
Wednesday, November 30, 2011 - 18:18
President Obama nominated Marilyn Tavenner, currently deputy CMS administrator, to replace Dr. Donald M. Berwick as administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.
Tavenner will now go through the Senate confirmation process, something which Berwick sidestepped through a recess appointment. Starting in December, Tavenner will take over on an acting basis. Although Tavenner worked closely with Berwick and is expected to manage the agency in similar fashion, observers see her as friendlier to opposition forces thanks to her background.
Tavenner has an extensive health background as a nurse, a health care official at both the state and federal level and maybe most importantly a major hospital chain executive. As a senior executive with Hospital Corporation of America, based in Richmond, Va., she made a favorable impression on GOP House Majority Leader Eric Cantor, who has come out in support of her nomination. While Cantor cannot vote on her nomination, he is an influential player with conservatives.
At the same time, Obama allies and CMS staff are reassured that the agency's direction will not be fundamentally altered in the near future.
