Leading Hospital Organizations Back CMS Nominee, as Senate Hearings Near

Tags: American Hospital Association | CHA | CMS | Donald Berwick | FAH | hospital leaders

With Senate hearings on Donald M. Berwick, MD, the nominee to lead CMS, expected within weeks, the leading national hospital organizations indicated their support for him in a letter to the leaders of key Senate committees, according to a report by the Hill.

The letter was sent by the American Hospital Association, Federation of American Hospitals, Catholic Health Association of the United States, National Association of Children’s Hospitals, National Association of Public Hospitals and Health Systems, Premier Inc., VHA Inc. and the Association of American Medical Colleges, which oversees the Council of Teaching Hospitals.

It said Dr. Berwick, president of the Institute for Healthcare Improvement, is "a trusted and respected voice within the health care community." It added: "His knowledge of our health care delivery system and how it is influenced by the multiple forces of regulation, payment, transparency and public policy make him well-qualified to implement provisions in the recently enacted health reform law."

Some Republicans have criticized Dr. Berwick for his praise of the United Kingdom's government-run National Health Service.

Read the Hill's report on Donald Berwick, MD.

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