Scheduled Hearing Set for Tuesday

The Senate Finance Committee has announced it has scheduled a hearing next Tuesday on the long-awaited confirmation of acting CMS Administrator Marilyn Tavenner. Tavenner has served in the role since December of 2011 after Donald Berwick, MD, stepped down.

According to The Hill, Tavenner has garnered broad support from members of Congress with Majority Leader Eric Cantor (R-Va.) endorsing her nomination. “Cantor doesn’t get a vote on Tavenner’s nomination, but his support is a signal that Republicans might be willing to support her, even though such a move would allow President Obama to permanently fill a crucially important healthcare position.”

Tavenner is a nurse who spent 25 years working for HCA. She also served four years as the secretary of Health and Human Resources in Virginia in the administration of then Gov. Tim Kaine, now a Senator for the state.  The hearing will be held on Tuesday, April 9 at 1o:00 am EDT, Room 215 of the Dirksen Senate Office Building. The hearing will also be webcast at  finance.senate.gov/hearings,