December 15,2016

Press Contact:

Aaron Fobes, Julia Lawless (202)224-4515

Hatch Statement on Meeting with Head of CMS Nominee Seema Verma

Utah Senator says Verma’s “leadership and unique understanding of the fiscal and administrative challenges facing both Medicare and Medicaid equips her with the tools needed to help ensure their solvency for future generations and promote necessary reforms at CMS, an agency whose responsibilities grew at an alarming rate under Obamacare.”


WASHINGTON – Today, Senate Finance Committee Chairman Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) met with the nominee to lead the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Seema Verma and issued the following statement:

“Over the last eight years, American middle-class families have struggled to find affordable care under Obamacare, making a repeal and replacement of the law a top priority for the new Republican Congress and administration. Through her solid health policy background, Seema will play a significant role in that effort. Likewise, her leadership and unique understanding of the fiscal and administrative challenges facing both Medicare and Medicaid equips her with the tools needed to help ensure their solvency for future generations and promote necessary reforms at CMS, an agency whose responsibilities grew at an alarming rate under Obamacare. I look forward to continuing to examine her record as the Committee’s bipartisan vetting process commences.”
 
Background: The U.S. Senate, as is its role under the Constitution, carefully, thoroughly and fairly vets and scrutinizes the President’s nominees. Each nominee that moves through the Senate Finance Committee will undergo the same bipartisan vetting process as the nominees from previous administrations. Traditionally, each nominee is required to submit a questionnaire as well as full copies of their tax returns to the Committee for review. Once the internal vetting process is completed, the Finance Committee will schedule a date for a confirmation hearing. The Senate Finance Committee recognizes the need for a seamless transition between administrations and will act in a swift and thorough manner to clear the nominees in the Committee to ensure a timely consideration by the full Senate.
 

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