A bitter personal rivalry between HHS Secretary Alex Azar and CMS Administrator Seema Verma derailed an ACA replacement plan this summer, according to Politico.
Department officials told Politico the tensions have consumed the department's work while the two leaders fight over who takes speaking engagements and criticize each other's policy proposals. The report details a complete failure to collaborate, which led Mr. Azar to reportedly axe plans to replace the ACA that Ms. Verma had been working on for months. He said they would have strengthened the law, according to the report. Recent reports of Ms. Verma's use of CMS consultants to boost her personal reputation have additionally strained their relationship, according to the report.
Spokespeople for Mr. Azar and Ms. Verma denied the rift.
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