The Senate Finance Committee held a hearing on April 15 to consider the nominations of CMS Administrator-designate Chiquita Brooks-LaSure and HHS Deputy Secretary Nominee Andrea Palm.
Members discussed their policy priorities, and the nominees supported the Biden Administration’s agenda and emphasized the need for a bipartisan approach to address various health care issues (i.e., insurance coverage, prescription drug costs, health care workforce issues, surprise medical billing legislation implementation).
Notably, Senator Bob Menendez (D-NJ)—the lead sponsor of the Resident Physician Shortage Reduction Act of 2021—asked about timely and efficient implementation of the 1,000 Medicare-supported residency slots enacted in the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021. Brooks-LaSure thanked Senator Menendez for his work on GME, responded that CMS would have a dialogue with stakeholders, and committed to provide public notice and an opportunity for comments.
The full Senate is expected to consider both nominations in the coming weeks.