Kerry Meets with CMS Nominee Don Berwick

Statement

Kerry Meets with CMS Nominee Don Berwick

Senator John Kerry (D-Mass.) today released the following statement after his meeting with Harvard Professor Donald M. Berwick, nominee for Administrator of Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS):

"Don Berwick and I had a very productive meeting this afternoon about all the challenges he'll face as the next Administrator of our nation's public health care programs. I know he's up to the challenge. His decades of experience in improving patient care and transforming the delivery of health systems will be a tremendous asset in overseeing federal programs that serve our children, individuals with disabilities, seniors, and low-income families.

"Don and I had a particularly interesting discussion about the landmark health reform in Massachusetts that has lead to the highest rate of health care coverage in the nation. I think it'll be a real asset to have someone like Don on board in Washington who has seen firsthand the lessons of the Massachusetts experiment. He knows how to build on those achievements.

"I look forward to supporting Don at his nomination hearing in the Senate Finance Committee next month. It's no secret that the national Republican Party has tried to crank up the attack machine and make his nomination a distorted referendum on reform. I hope everyone will instead take a deep breath and look at the facts about this public servant who is beyond debate a dedicated pediatrician and nationally recognized expert on health care quality. We need better than phony assertions that he'd ever set up death panels in Medicare, or interfere in personal health care decisions made between patients and their doctors. Frankly, we need a more honest debate than we had over health reform itself, which didn't serve anyone well. It's time to permanently retire these ridiculous accusations from politics, and thoughtfully consider our nominees so that first rate experts won't shy away from public service."

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