Berwick appointed CMS administrator

The White House announced on Wednesday the appointment of Donald Berwick as administrator of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. President Obama made the appointment while Congress was in recess, a tactic that allows Berwick to serve until Dec. 31, 2011, without a Senate confirmation vote. Republican members of Congress have sharply criticized Berwick's published comments, asserting that his praise for the U.K.'s NICE and NHS suggest he supports rationing medical care.

President Obama said in a statement that he appointed Berwick, and made two other recess appointments, because "many in Congress have decided to delay critical nominations for political purposes." However, Senate Democrats had not yet started the confirmation process by scheduling a confirmation hearing for Berwick. Sen. Max Baucus (D-Mont.) said he is "troubled that, rather than going through the standard nomination process, Dr. Berwick was recess appointed." Baucus is chair of the Finance Committee, which has jurisdiction over CMS. ...