Sen. Tom Harkin (D-Iowa), chairman of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, has placed a hold on the nomination of Marilyn Tavenner as Administrator of CMS, despite widespread bipartisan support for her appointment, according to a report by The Hill.
The senator has not specifically stated the reason for the hold, other than it addresses concerns that arose in earlier Senate hearings regarding the acting CMS administrator's nomination. Speculation has arisen that ties the move to Sen. Harkin's dissatisfaction with President Barack Obama's budget, which pulls money from the Prevention and Public Health Fund to pay for large parts of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.
If her appointment as permanent CMS administrator is approved by the Senate, Ms. Tavenner will be the first fully approved administrator in seven years.
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The senator has not specifically stated the reason for the hold, other than it addresses concerns that arose in earlier Senate hearings regarding the acting CMS administrator's nomination. Speculation has arisen that ties the move to Sen. Harkin's dissatisfaction with President Barack Obama's budget, which pulls money from the Prevention and Public Health Fund to pay for large parts of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.
If her appointment as permanent CMS administrator is approved by the Senate, Ms. Tavenner will be the first fully approved administrator in seven years.
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