Senate Democrats have given up on confirming Don Berwick, MD, as CMS administrator, now that Republicans have demonstrated they have enough votes to block his nomination, according to a report by Politico.
At a meeting Friday, Democratic staff of the Senate Finance Committee reportedly stated there won't be a confirmation hearing for Dr. Berwick and they will be discussing "next steps" for CMS.
The White House has not indicated it has given up on the CMS administrator, who has been taking a hands-on approach to many healthcare reform initiatives like drafting proposed rules for accountable care organizations.
Dr. Berwick, who came to his job as a recess appointment in July without Senate confirmation, would have to be confirmed by the Senate to stay in office beyond the end of this year.
In a recent letter, 42 GOP senators asked President Obama to withdraw Dr. Berwick's nomination, meaning that he could not achieve the 60-vote minimum to avoid a filibuster.
Despite his high standing within the healthcare community, Dr. Berwick has become the Republicans' poster boy for everything they dislike about healthcare reform. They have never absolved him for past comments he made favoring healthcare rationing and Great Britain's centralized healthcare system, and they were unhappy with the president's use of a recess appointment to avoid hearings on these concerns.
Read the Politico report on Don Berwick, MD.
Read more coverage on efforts to oust Don Berwick, MD from his CMS post.
- GOP Senators Have the Votes to Oust CMS Head Don Berwick
- GOP Lawmakers Prepare to Grill CMS Administrator Don Berwick
- Don Berwick Renounces Rationing, Too Much Bureaucracy
At a meeting Friday, Democratic staff of the Senate Finance Committee reportedly stated there won't be a confirmation hearing for Dr. Berwick and they will be discussing "next steps" for CMS.
The White House has not indicated it has given up on the CMS administrator, who has been taking a hands-on approach to many healthcare reform initiatives like drafting proposed rules for accountable care organizations.
Dr. Berwick, who came to his job as a recess appointment in July without Senate confirmation, would have to be confirmed by the Senate to stay in office beyond the end of this year.
In a recent letter, 42 GOP senators asked President Obama to withdraw Dr. Berwick's nomination, meaning that he could not achieve the 60-vote minimum to avoid a filibuster.
Despite his high standing within the healthcare community, Dr. Berwick has become the Republicans' poster boy for everything they dislike about healthcare reform. They have never absolved him for past comments he made favoring healthcare rationing and Great Britain's centralized healthcare system, and they were unhappy with the president's use of a recess appointment to avoid hearings on these concerns.
Read the Politico report on Don Berwick, MD.
Read more coverage on efforts to oust Don Berwick, MD from his CMS post.
- GOP Senators Have the Votes to Oust CMS Head Don Berwick
- GOP Lawmakers Prepare to Grill CMS Administrator Don Berwick
- Don Berwick Renounces Rationing, Too Much Bureaucracy