Will Sebelius, new HHS Secretary, Focus on Minorities? If not, I WILL!

On Monday of this week the nomination of Kansas Governor Kathleen Sebelius for the post of secretary of Health and Human Services passed in the Senate Finance Committee 15-8. Her nomination for HHS secretary now goes to the full Senate, which is expected to vote this week. Sebelius was Obama’s second choice after Tom Daschle, who withdrew from the nomination after it was revealed that he owed more than $120,000 in federal taxes. Daschle had been pegged to run both HHS and the White House Office for Health Reform.

Previously President Obama nominated Nancy Ann DeParle to the post of director of the White House Office for Health Reform. DeParle was previously Tennessee’s commissioner of the Department of Human Services, and she handled health budget issues, Medicare, and Medicaid in the Clinton administration.

President Obama is quoted as saying, “Healthcare reform that reduces costs while expanding coverage is no longer just a dream we hope to achieve; it’s a necessity we have to achieve.” Governor Sebelius brings significant experience and political savvy to the table. “To her credit, her managerial expertise as Governor for Kansas has afforded her valuable direct experience with Medicaid. And her record as Insurance Commissioner shows that she brings the rigor and commitment to consumers needed for a ‘chief watchdog’ role.

But she hasn't always enjoyed success while in office—she failed to get health coverage extended to children through age five and was unsuccessful in passing a cigarette tax increase for the expansion of Medicaid—most are confident that she will do well working with President Obama due to a history of bipartisan administration. And, once she effectively takes the helm, we hope she will quickly dispel myths about being the ‘back-up’ plan since Daschle’s withdrawal from consideration.

Managed care executives can expect that as Secretary of HHS, Sebelius will reinforce Obama’s accountability mantra. Her record shows that she's got the guts to fight for the underdog and will root out waste and mismanagement.

I personally look forward to working with the two nominees, the Congress and Administration to improve healthcare quality, control health spending and put America on the path to healthcare coverage for everyone. And I mean, everyone. From rural populations,to  inner-city minorities and every child in America. Stay tuned.

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