“Like with so many different agencies under President Joe Biden, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services will look wildly different in the next four years than how it did under his predecessor. Helming this change will likely be the newly nominated administrator, Chiquita Brooks-LaSure, who is expected to focus on healthcare access and equity.”
“Though a date for Brooks-LaSure’s Senate confirmation hearing has not been set as yet, her nomination was referred to the Senate Finance Committee on Feb. 22, according to The Washington Post. For reference, former CMS Administrator Seema Verma was nominated for the role on Nov. 29, 2016, and confirmed on March 13, 2017.”
“Brooks-LaSure is currently managing director at Manatt, a national professional services firm. But she has plenty of prior experience in government. Previously, she served as deputy director for policy at CMS’ Center for Consumer Information and Insurance Oversight and director of coverage policy at the Department of Health and Human Services. If confirmed, she will be the first Black woman leading the charge at CMS.”
“One of Brooks-LaSure’s top policy priorities will likely be expanding access to healthcare and insurance coverage, said Jennifer Kreick, a healthcare attorney at law firm Haynes and Boone.”
“Brooks-LaSure’s interest in expanding access, especially through the Affordable Care Act, is well-documented. Just last year, she co-authored a paper published in Health Affairs on this topic…” Read the full article here.
Source: Healthcare access, equity will likely be Chiquita Brooks-LaSure’s focus as CMS administrator – By Anuja Vaidya, February 24, 2021. MedCity News.
