On November 17, 2010, Dr. Donald Berwick, the administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), testified before the Senate Committee on Finance.  In his first appearance before a congressional committee since becoming administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, Dr. Donald Berwick told the Senate Finance Committee that the health law would help make the delivery of medical care more efficient and reduce its cost.

Republicans voiced concerns about several aspects of the law, including its reduction in payments to private Medicare plans, known as Medicare Advantage.  Republicans also said that the hearing, which lasted just over an hour, did not give them enough time to question Berwick.

The following is an excerpt from Dr. Berwick’s testimony.  We have posted the testimony in its entirety on the health care reform page of our website HERE.

“Strengthening Medicare and Medicaid must be a step-by-step, community-by-community effort.  All of us share the goal of improving the quality of health care in this country and helping to make care more affordable and accessible for America’s seniors, families, and children.  Many of the programs, new authorities, and unprecedented innovations that CMS is implementing and pursuing as a result of the provisions of the Affordable Care Act are ideas that had their genesis in this Committee.  I know that you and your staff spent many months working collaboratively to transform America’s health care system.  While the Affordable Care Act is now the law of the land, the work is not done.  We still need your help.”

Patti Cullen, CAE
952.851.2487
pcullen@careproviders.org

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