Chiquita Brooks-LaSure has been tapped to serve as administrator at the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.
Providers on Friday applauded the news that President Joseph R. Biden has picked healthcare policy veteran Chiquita Brooks-LaSure to lead the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.
"America's hospitals and health systems applaud the nomination of Chiquita Brooks-LaSure to serve as the next administrator of CMS," American Hospital Association President and CEO Rick Pollack said in a statement. "She is well equipped to lead CMS and we look forward to working with her to defeat the COVID-19 pandemic and advance the health of all our patients and communities."
The Washington Post and other news outlets had reported earlier this week that Brooks-LaSure was Biden's choice to lead the $1 trillion agency, which oversees Medicare, Medicaid, and the Affordable Care Act, the programs that provide healthcare coverage for about 100 million people.
The White House made it official on Friday.
Brooks-LaSure, described by the White House as having more than 20 years experience in healthcare policy, is now Managing Director at Manatt. During the Obama administration she was deputy director for policy at the Center for Consumer Information and Insurance Oversight within CMS, and as director of coverage policy at the Department of Health & Human Services, where she led the agency’s implementation of ACA coverage and insurance reform policy provisions.
The Association of American Medical Colleges called Brooks-LaSure “a strong, persistent, and effective voice in support of increasing patient access to vital health care."
"Her detailed understanding of Medicare, Medicaid, and the Affordable Care Act, as well as her commitment to health equity, makes her a welcome partner in academic medicine’s work to improve the health of people everywhere," AAMC said.
Brooks-LaSure also served on the staff of the House Ways and Means Committee, where she worked with then-Rep. Xavier Becerra, D-CA, who is now Biden's pick for secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services.
Pollack said Brooks-LaSure's health policy resume "gives her a deep understanding of the importance of health care coverage and protections for consumers."
On Saturday morning, America's Essential Hospitals (AEH) released a statement supporting Brooks-LaSure's nomination for CMS Administrator, citing her "deep expertise in Medicaid and Medicare policies and her role in advancing coverage" under the ACA.
"We also welcome Brooks-LaSure’s nomination due to her long-standing focus on disparities in health and health care, such as those that affect the underrepresented people our hospitals serve," Bruce Siegel, MD, MPH, CEO of AEH, said in a statement. "Her work to combat maternal mortality and morbidity makes her well suited to meet this urgent challenge for our nation."
The nominations of Brooks-LaSure and Becerra must be approved by the Senate, which is controlled by Democrats. Becerra's hearing is scheduled to begin next week.
Editor's note: This story has been updated to include commentary from America's Essential Hospitals.
“She is well equipped to lead CMS and we look forward to working with her to defeat the COVID-19 pandemic and advance the health of all our patients and communities.”
Rick Pollack, president / CEO, AHA
John Commins is a content specialist and online news editor for HealthLeaders, a Simplify Compliance brand.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
Brooks-LaSure has more than 20 years experience in healthcare policy, and is now managing director at Manatt.
During the Obama administration she was deputy director for policy at the Center for Consumer Information and Insurance Oversight within CMS.
As director of coverage policy at HHS she led the agency’s implementation of ACA coverage and insurance reform policy provisions.
Brooks-LaSure also served on the staff of the House Ways and Means Committee, where she worked with then-Rep. Xavier Becerra, D-CA, Biden's pick for HHS secretary.