Seema Verma confirmed as Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services administrator
The former consultant largely skirted questions during her confirmation hearing about her opinions on Medicaid and Medicare reform.
While much of the healthcare universe was focused on the Congressional Budget Office's damning projections for the Republican healthcare reform bill, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services quietly scored its latest leader.
The U.S. Senate on Monday confirmed Seema Verma, an Indiana consultant best-known for her work on the Healthy Indiana state Medicaid reform plan, as the latest CMS admin in a 55 to 43 vote.
[Also: Seema Verma says she's against Medicare vouchers, suggests risk models hurt rural healthcare]
Verma, who largely skirted questions during her confirmation hearing about her opinions on Medicaid and Medicare reform, as well as value-based reimbursement models, had worked on the Healthy Indiana project while Vice President Mike Pence was governor of that state.
Sen. Majority Leader Mitch McConnell celebrated the news on Monday and said Verma will help Health and Human Services Secretary Tom Price in the Republican Party's fight to repeal the Affordable Care Act.
Seema Verma has been confirmed by the #Senate to lead @CMSgov. With @SecPriceMD, she can help #RepealAndReplace the failure of #Obamacare
-- Leader McConnell (@SenateMajLdr) March 13, 2017
[Also: CBO report predicts 24 million would lose coverage by 2026 under American Health Care Act]
That could be quite the challenge after the CBO on Monday said it projects the Republicans' health care bill, dubbed the American Health Care Act, would result in 24 million losing their insurance coverage in a decade.
Verma replaces acting Admin Andy Slavitt, who has become a vocal opponent of Republican healthcare proposals since he left the agency in January.
Twitter: @HenryPowderly
Contact the author: henry.powderly@himssmedia.com
