Kerry on Don Berwick's Recess Appointment As New Medicare, Medicaid Chief

Statement

Senator John Kerry (D-Mass.) today released the following statement on the appointment of former Harvard Professor Donald Berwick as the new Administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services:

"Republican lockstep stalling of Don's nomination was a case study in cynicism and one awful example of how not to govern. Republicans screamed that these federal programs were in trouble, then tried to deny the Administration the capable guy the President had chosen to oversee them. The President did the right thing making this a recess appointment. He wasn't going to let the Republicans thrive in a chaos of their own making. Instead, he put seniors, kids, and the disabled ahead of Republican gamesmanship, and he put a terrific public servant in place. Don's decades of experience improving patient care and transforming the delivery of health systems will be a tremendous asset. He's first rate all the way, and throughout Massachusetts' landmark health reform, Don was there, helping lead our state to the highest rate of health care coverage in the nation. That experience will directly benefit us going forward."

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