During her final confirmation hearing yesterday, Sylvia Mathews Burwell said the government should "use the full force of the law" to recover federal money spent improperly on flawed state exchanges, according to a report from The New York Times.
Ms. Burwell, currently director of the Office of Management and Budget, is the Obama administration's pick to replace Kathleen Sebelius as HHS secretary.The SenateFinance Committee questioned her during yesterday's hearing.
Several state exchanges have run into technical problems. For instance, the federal government spent a total of $474 million on the development of exchanges that failed because of technical problems in Massachusetts, Maryland, Oregon and Nevada.
Ms. Burwell also told the Senate Finance Committee she would work with Congress on possible Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act improvements, according to the report. Last week, during her first confirmation hearing before the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, she called the technical problems that plagued the federal exchange site, HealthCare.gov, following its launch "unacceptable" and said repairing any remaining issues would be a top priority for her as the head of HHS.
Following yesterday's hearing, Ms. Burwell's nomination will move to the Senate floor for a vote. Her confirmation seems likely, according to the report. She has garnered support from lawmakers on both sides of the aisle, including prominent Senate Republicans John McCain of Arizona, Richard Burr of North Carolina and Tom Coburn of Oklahoma.
More Articles on Sylvia Mathews Burwell:
Sylvia Mathews Burwell's Final Confirmation Hearing Scheduled
Prominent Republicans Support HHS Secretary Nominee Sylvia Mathews Burwell
5 Questions Sylvia Mathews Burwell Could Face About the PPACA