Sebelius Gets Nod from Senate Finance Committee

WASHINGTON–In a 15-8 vote this morning, the Senate Finance
Committee approved Kansas Gov. Kathleen Sebelius as secretary of
Health and Human Services.

A vote in the full Senate, which must confirm the nomination, is
expected later this week.

As far as some HME advocates are concerned, Sebelius’
confirmation can’t come soon enough–and, in fact,
didn’t. In testimony before the Finance Committee, Sebelius
said she would review comments about Medicare’s DMEPOS
competitive bidding program, delayed by Congress last July.

“The administration extended the comment period for
CMS’ recent competitive bidding rule to ensure that all
stakeholders have an opportunity to review CMS’ proposed
policies,” Sebelius told the committee, adding that if she
were confirmed, the comments would be “reviewed very
carefully in order to implement the policies fairly.”

But Sebelius’ confirmation was postponed earlier this month
after revelations of tax errors and campaign donations from a
Kansas abortion provider. CMS subsequently re-started the
controversial bidding program with an interim final rule that took
effect Saturday. On Friday,
the agency refused to delay or rescind the rule.

If Sebelius is confirmed, according to Cara Bachenheimer, senior
vice president of government relations for Invacare, Elyria,
Ohio,
“it’s going to be our job to pressure them to look at
this program and do what a lot of members of Congress are asking
[to suspend the rule].”