CMS Administrator Berwick’s “Race Against Time”

WaPo had a great piece yesterday on the clock ticking down on CMS Administrator Berwick’s time remaining before his recess appointment runs out. It’s clear that Congressional Republicans are not going to allow Berwick to be confirmed, and that partisan politics are driving this eminently qualified leader from office at the end of this year.

It’s a sad statement on where the politics of health reform stand heading into a Presidential election and full implementation of the ACA in 2014. Our hope is that the heir apparent, Marilyn Tavenner (see Jean Lemasurier’s post from last month), will benefit from her lower profile and operational experience to drive the Administration’s Medicare and Medicaid reform agenda next year.