Ordinarily, the nomination by the president of a candidate to the post of CMS chief is a rather staid and mundane affair. The ability to steer the agency responsible for guaranteeing care for the poor, childless, and elderly in this country is a daunting task usually handled without much controversy by the chief executive’s chosen one — an appointee who usually does the job and moves on.

But these aren’t ordinary times, and in this age of close political scrutiny — the politics of healthcare is as ponderous as any other issue dominating the president’s “to-do” list.  That’s why Obama’s choice to head Medicare and Medicaid Services will prove to be an involved and interesting one with respect to Senate confirmation. Those on the right say that Don Berwick’s presumptive appointment smacks of socialized healthcare leanings, as they point to his praise of European systems of healthcare — in particular, the British model.

Liberals praise Berwick’s championing preventive care methods which promote efficient, cost-effective care.^[1] They say he’s the right man for the job. Republicans say he’s all for rationing.

The confirmation process will, as usual, be handled by the Senate Finance Cmte. | LINK

UPDATE: Congress has until 6/21 to reverse yet another looming chance at a Medicare pay cut to physicians. | LINK

1. Berwick has created special teams to promote such initiatives as cutting hospital infection rates and implementing better asthma care and coronary surgery improvements characterized by smaller additional costs in healthcare systems. [↩]

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