House Energy and Commerce Committee Republicans Ask for Hearing With Medicare/Medicaid Chief Donald Berwick

WASHINGTON – Republicans on the House Energy and Commerce Committee, led by U.S. Reps. Joe Barton, R-Texas, ranking member of the committee, John Shimkus, R-Ill., and Michael Burgess, R-Texas, today asked Committee Chairman Henry Waxman, D-Calif., to hold a hearing with Donald Berwick, the new administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.

Berwick was recently given a recess appointment by President Obama, denying Senate Democrats and Republicans a nomination hearing. The president waited 15 months to nominate Berwick yet waited less than three months before installing him as administrator without Senate confirmation.

“Regardless of the controversy surrounding Dr. Berwick’s recess appointment, Dr. Berwick is now the administrator, and this committee must exercise its responsibility to oversee this agency,” the 18 lawmakers wrote. “A hearing with Dr. Berwick would enable members to question the individual now in charge of implementing half a trillion dollars in cuts to Medicare. We could hear how Dr. Berwick believes these cuts will affect seniors’ access to services and coverage.

“Dr. Berwick will also be responsible for implementing the expansion and transformation of the Medicaid program contained in the new health care law. He will oversee a program with more than 90 million individuals and an increase in spending of nearly 90 percent during the 2014-2019 period alone. His decisions will thus have far-reaching implications for every state budget.”

A copy of the letter in PDF Format Republicans Ask for Hearing With Obama’s Medicare/Medicaid Chief.

TEXT CREDIT: U.S. Representative Joe L. Barton WASHINGTON OFFICE 2109 Rayburn Building Washington, DC 20515 (202) 225-2002 (202) 225-3052 fax

IMAGE CREDIT: energyandcommerce