Senate ‘Stops Short’ of Endorsing Norwalk

WASHINGTON–On Tuesday, members of the Senate Finance Committee
“shopped short” of endorsing CMS Acting Administrator Leslie
Norwalk as the agency’s permanent head, CQ HealthBeat
reported.

Norwalk took over as interim head of the agency in October when
former Administrator Mark McClellan left the post. (See HomeCare Monday, Oct. 2, 2006.)

According to the article, committee Chairman Max Baucus,
D-Mont., said, “I think they need some fresh blood, frankly. They
just need to get a good person.”

Sen. Charles Grassley, R-Iowa, a ranking member of the
committee, which oversees Medicare and Medicaid, said he has not
decided whether he would support Norwalk as a nominee for CMS
administrator.

Since joining CMS five years ago, Norwalk has served in
positions including COO, acting director of the Center for
Beneficiary Choices and counselor to McClellan’s predecessor,
former Administrator Thomas Scully. After Scully’s departure in
December 2003, she remained as the agency lead in carrying out
Medicare reform legislation.

According to CQ, Norwalk and Deputy Acting
Administrator Herb Kuhn were considered the “two top candidates”
for the job after McClellan resigned.