Obama’s Medicare Chief Donald Berwick Quits
- Posted on November 23, 2011 at 12:45pm by
Jonathon M. Seidl
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Donald Berwick, who sources say will resign effective Dec. 2. (Photo: AP)
WASHINGTON (AP) — The point man for carrying out President Barack Obama’s health care law will be stepping down after Republicans succeeded in blocking his confirmation by the Senate, the White House announced Wednesday.
Medicare chief Don Berwick, a Harvard professor widely respected for his ideas on how to improve the health care system, became the most prominent casualty of the political wars over a health care overhaul whose constitutionality will be now decided by the Supreme Court.
Praising Berwick for “outstanding work,“ White House deputy press secretary Jamie Smith criticized Republicans for ”putting political interests above the best interests of the American people.”
Berwick will be replaced by his principal deputy, Marilyn Tavenner, formerly Virginia’s top health care official. Tavenner has been at Medicare since early last year, earning a reputation as a problem solver with years of real-world experience and an extensive network of industry contacts. A nurse by training, she worked her way up to the senior executive ranks of a major hospital chain. She ran Virginia’s health department under former Democratic Gov. Tim Kaine.
Berwick’s fate was sealed early this year when 42 GOP senators – more than enough to derail his confirmation – announced their opposition to his nomination. That started a countdown on his temporary appointment. His resignation takes effect Dec. 2.
Berwick‘s statements as an academic praising Britain’s government-run health care had become a source of controversy in politically polarized Washington. Although he later told Congress that “the American system needs its own solution” and Britain‘s shouldn’t be copied here, his critics were not swayed.
In an email to his staff, Berwick said he leaves with “bittersweet emotions.”
“Our work has been challenging, and the journey is not complete, but we are now well on our way to achieving a whole new level of security and quality for health care in America, helping not just the millions of Americans affected directly by our programs, but truly health care as a whole in our nation,” Berwick wrote.
A pediatrician before becoming a Harvard professor, Berwick has many admirers in the medical community, including some former Republican administrators of Medicare. His self-styled “three-part aim” for the health care system includes providing a better overall experience for individual patients, improving the health of groups in the population such as seniors and African-Americans, and lowering costs through efficiency.
But some of his professorial ruminations dogged him in Washington. Republicans accused him of advocating health care rationing, which Berwick denies.
But Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, said Berwick’s past record of controversial statements and his lack of experience managing complex bureaucracies should disqualify him from the Medicare job. Hatch, the ranking Republican on the Senate panel that oversees Medicare, led the opposition to his nomination. The White House said Obama will now seek Senate confirmation of Tavenner.
Berwick oversaw the drafting and rollout of major regulations that will begin to reshape the health care system, steering Medicare away from paying for sheer volume of services and procedures and instead putting a premium on quality care that keeps patients healthier and avoids costly hospitalizations.
Berwick turned 65 this year, making him the first Medicare chief eligible to be enrolled in the program. He told The Associated Press in an earlier interview that he was putting in his application, but doesn’t plan to retire any time soon. Instead he plans to keep working as an advocate for change in the nation’s health care system.
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Comments (101)
TheePolitinator
Posted on November 23, 2011 at 1:44pmOh and another thing, cadillac health care for the elected. Under the Constitution lawmakers are NOT suppose to make laws they themselves don’t have to obey. This is the problem with them, what do they care about the average Joe? It does not effect them. That and they continue to get pay and benefits after they leave office. What we need here is a complete Washington Enema.
Report Post »TheePolitinator
Posted on November 23, 2011 at 1:47pmOh and if SCOTUS rules this commie legislation constitutional its proof how deep the corruption truly is and we have lost this country for good. This will only give them precedence to force more and more crap down our throats, its the beginning of the end.
Report Post »dwilco77
Posted on November 23, 2011 at 4:44pmThis is one of the great victories of our times. Berwick was the person that said “excellent Healthcare is by definition redistributional”. “…it must redistribute wealth from the richest of us to the less fortunate”. I trained in a County hospital 20 years ago. The care given there was some of the best I have seen in my career. The Hospital was supported by taxpayer funds coming from productive citizens. Those same Hospitals are struggling now due to the decrease in our economy, and the decrease in taxpayer funds to support them. The better an economy, the better we are able to take care of the less fortunate. This backwards thinking, that to take from the rich to support the poor, will spiral us into a situation where no one will get good healthcare. Berwick wanted to model us after the Healthcare system in the UK. Death rates from cancer are double, if not greater there. Patients over 65 years of age no longer have sufficient ‘quality years remaining’ therefore they are denied adequate healthcare. Berwick’s plan would have taken the less fortunate, ie. those with diabilities, or chronic illnesses’, and seperate them out as not valuable enough to use resources. Do not let these leaders fool you into thinking that they have your best interests in mind. When they talk about ‘Accountable Care’, this is actually ‘Government accountable care’. The Physician will be reimbursed not on the care they supply, but will profit on the care they do not supply.
Report Post »pattybbb1
Posted on November 23, 2011 at 6:07pmOH, thank you LORD! I work in healthcare. Thank you thank you thank you!
Report Post »dwilco77
Posted on November 23, 2011 at 6:42pmTo clarify my above statement that ‘Physicians will be reimbursed on the care they do not provide’ -
Report Post »This is not a system which benefits the Physician. This is Capitated care. Capitated care has been around in certain forms since the 1990′s. Up until now, only Physicians that wanted to, would participate. The push now, is to drive Physicians out of Private practice into large groups called Accountable Care Organizations (ACO’s). The concept sounds wonderful on the surface. To have a Physician ‘Accountable’. The Accountability unfortunately is not necessarily in favor of the patient. The group of Physicians will be given a set amount of money to care for the group of patients to whom they are assigned. Whatever is left over at the end of a certain time period, will be the Physicians compensation. In order for the Physician to provide care, they will have to take money out of the pile to care for you. The idea is that the Physician will be less likely to spend his own money to take care of you, and thereby decrease the amount of resources used to care for you. This is the new ACO care you will be hearing about. How could a Physician not be influenced in their decision making under this kind of program. I know very few Physicians that will find satisfaction in their careers under these new programs; however, a few have thrived by withholding care.
RossPoldark
Posted on November 23, 2011 at 11:14pmOduma and his cronie are putting their political interests ahead of the American people!
Report Post »jakartaman
Posted on November 23, 2011 at 1:41pmThe government does nothing well or efficient. the exception is the military and that is only well not efficient.
Report Post »Why – why would anyone think the government could do health care well and efficient is way beyond my ability to comprehend. All obamacare is an excuse to get illegals and his welfare buddies on a free ride at our expense and health – Period!
Jaycen
Posted on November 23, 2011 at 1:48pmDid Seidl offer anything to this, or just copy/paste it from the AP?
I’m only asking since there were SO many references to how many people loved Berwick. What the hell is happening to TheBlaze?
Report Post »AvengerK
Posted on November 23, 2011 at 3:33pmI’m always amused by the seemingly benign posturings of digusting socialists like Berwick.
Report Post »Don’t be fooled by him. He’s an advocate of health care rationing which is why Obama appointed him in the first place. He’s an advocate of the government determining how much and what quality of care you will receive. He stated in Biotechnology Healthcare in 2009: “society makes decisions about rationing all the time,“ and that the ”decision is not whether or not we will ration care — the decision is whether we will ration with our eyes open. And right now, we are doing it blindly.” ..and he advocates “policy-connected models for the evaluation of medical treatments.”. In other words..a government beaurocrat determines how much and what health care you get. Good riddance to Berwick another of Obama’s creeps.
don young
Posted on November 23, 2011 at 1:39pmWell there is one smart person when are the rest going to leave.
Report Post »parmajohn
Posted on November 23, 2011 at 2:04pmin 2012
Report Post »Agnes
Posted on November 23, 2011 at 10:04pmHopefully the clowns will be going back to Kenya in 2012.
Report Post »hypnos
Posted on November 23, 2011 at 1:39pmMore worthless rats leaving the ship. Probably taking early retirement on our dime.
Report Post »stickyd
Posted on November 23, 2011 at 1:37pmSuch great news. This man publicly spoke of his support and recommendation for redistribution of wealth during his tenure. One down, many more to go!
Report Post »SheriS
Posted on November 23, 2011 at 1:36pmIsn’t it amazing that all the “phonies” can find all Conservative news and blogs, but don’t have any sense when it comes to elected officials. It seems none of the pathetic souls work as they troll the internets to harrass all the Conservative blogs with their trash! This is about the umpteenth time, a great blog was created to have it devasted by the stupid dummycrats who don’t give a hoot and probably never bother to do their research but only listen to their indoctrinators exhibiting their stupidity!
Report Post »wkw58
Posted on November 23, 2011 at 1:35pmWasn’t he an advocate of the “Whole Life” system?….i.e., less medical care as you age. Thank you GOP.
Report Post »momsense
Posted on November 23, 2011 at 1:50pmGOP? Who is it that brought us Obozo care–fool !
Report Post »TheePolitinator
Posted on November 23, 2011 at 1:34pmThats the problem with this country, no matter what these people do its always “they will step down”. I say prison, but that’s just me.
Report Post »Jaycen
Posted on November 23, 2011 at 1:49pmPrison? For what? For “not getting confirmed by Congress”?
Do you bother to read the articles?
Report Post »TeaPartyPatriot
Posted on November 23, 2011 at 1:33pmSocialist BIG GOVERNMENT vermin like berwick NEVER go away from their beloved government. OBOZO will probably appoint him to head-up some of the obozocare DEATH PANELS or to some other useless, anti-American role.
Report Post »Jim in Houston
Posted on November 23, 2011 at 1:33pmOne communist down, many more to go!
Report Post »INOGAWD
Posted on November 23, 2011 at 7:08pmHas anyone noticed ? The insider trading BS with Pelosi and
Report Post »others has gotten verrrrry quiet… probably busy trying to cover
each others azz’s.. really haven’t missed the Stupid Bitc**, if
I never see the POS on the tube again, be ok with Me !!!!
Ohio Girl
Posted on November 23, 2011 at 1:31pmIs this a sign all of the rats are jumping the sinking ship?
Report Post »Daveed
Posted on November 23, 2011 at 1:29pmIncreasing efficiency in medical treatment through Government’s shining example of waste, corruption, insider trading, ethical malfeasance, write as you go laws and regulations, bypassing Congress and safe guards put into place by our Constitution Godly Founding Fathers? The list does not end.
Report Post »It seems that all the radical left revolutionaries do is let one socialist run their course anf fall into disrepute with the American people, move them out and then put in another one. So roll of your sleeves, save the cheers until our entire goverment, Federal, State, County, City positions are filled with George Washingtons.
Tri-ox
Posted on November 23, 2011 at 1:28pmMr. Berwick is an enemy of the United States, like so many of those whom obama has surrounded himself with.
Report Post »TheePolitinator
Posted on November 23, 2011 at 1:37pmCould not agree more. There is such thing as domestic enemies. And boy we have many. Our next President that’s non establishment has alot of work to do. Starting with legislation to ensure this never happens again and to imprison anyone that openly goes against their vow to protect and preserve our Constitution and this includes commie presidents.
Report Post »Mo Better
Posted on November 23, 2011 at 1:27pm(”….. widely respected for his ideas on how to improve the health care system….”)
Really? Respected by whom?
This clown was just one of many cracked egghead nutjobs placed into positions of authority by the Fraud-in-Chief himself, Barry Soetoro. We can rest assured that his replacement will be spouting the same leftist effluent….
Report Post »JLGunner
Posted on November 23, 2011 at 1:49pmI agree, who’s praising these socialistic idiots?
Report Post »Anonymous T. Irrelevant
Posted on November 23, 2011 at 1:18pmIf he was never confirmed, then what the heck was he doing there for 3 1/2 years? Did he get paid for this?
Report Post »DREAMINGOFCALI
Posted on November 23, 2011 at 1:43pmHe was another recess appointment back in July of 2010 to go around congress. It was the only way this Marxist could get appointed. He is most infamous for his quote, “Any healthcare funding plan that is just, equitable, civilized, and humane must, must redistribute wealth from the richer among us to the poorer and the less fortunate. Excellent healthcare is by definition redistributional.” Good riddance. I’m sure he will slither back to Harvard to a heroes welcome…
Report Post »progressiveslayer
Posted on November 23, 2011 at 1:14pmBerwick is a communist stooge enamored with the U.K health care socialized medicine racket.
Report Post »It‘s good to see comrade Berwick gone but they’ll just replace him with another communist heathen.
swonga
Posted on November 23, 2011 at 1:32pmso true. we are blessed he is gone.
Report Post »ColoradoMaverick
Posted on November 23, 2011 at 1:13pmJust another useless egghead from Obama’s utopian world of academia.
Report Post »lukerw
Posted on November 23, 2011 at 1:02pmNo Amnesty!
Report Post »LeadNotFollow
Posted on November 23, 2011 at 1:01pmObama’s people are jumping off his sinking boat, more than any President in America’s history.
Report Post »TSUNAMI-22
Posted on November 23, 2011 at 1:08pmRats trying to save themselves from a sinking ship are still just wet rats.
Report Post »hauschild
Posted on November 23, 2011 at 12:59pmAnother shining example of how being educated does not necessarily lend itself to being intelligent.
Report Post »I.Gaspar
Posted on November 23, 2011 at 12:59pmheh heh heh.
Report Post »Rot in hell berwick…and take some more of obama’s staff with you.
piper60
Posted on November 23, 2011 at 12:59pmThis guy needed to go, clearly.
Report Post »Pillar of Fire
Posted on November 23, 2011 at 1:30pmHe’ll just be recycled like Van Jones…let’s see if he goes somewhere in sorosland. & do your homework. Who does he have connections with? They are a tight bunch serving OUR Enemy. We outnumber them, but we are a patient bunch. The enemy is causing chaos because he knows his days are numbered. G-d is patient because HE knows HE wins in the end…just wait like the dog. He’s waiting for his master to resurrect from the grave…soon…
Report Post »trueblueday
Posted on November 23, 2011 at 12:59pmLet’s see his replacement.
Report Post »Countrygirl1362
Posted on November 23, 2011 at 1:24pmWould be surprised if Obama has enough time between vacations and campaigning to name one, that would mean he actually has to work.
Report Post »war7412
Posted on November 23, 2011 at 12:52pmONE DOWN……….How many more to go..2012 is coming…………..
Report Post »AisA
Posted on November 23, 2011 at 1:06pmMy computer does not count that high!
Report Post »Juniemoon
Posted on November 23, 2011 at 12:50pmWow, the republicans have accomplished something.
Report Post »JRook
Posted on November 23, 2011 at 12:54pmDriving away competent, capable people seems to be their primary accomplishment lately.
Report Post »Zcat
Posted on November 23, 2011 at 12:55pmI totally agree. Lets see how long it takes them to screw this up!
Report Post »Psychosis
Posted on November 23, 2011 at 1:02pmwhatever JROOK there was nothing competent about that fool, as is the same for most of the people in this current administration
but im not surprised you think so……………..losers tend to like losers
Report Post »Therightsofbilly
Posted on November 23, 2011 at 1:22pm@JROOK
Well, then I surmise that you will not be going anywhere soon, and that we can look forward to your future contributions.
Report Post »hypnos
Posted on November 23, 2011 at 3:32pmJrook he‘s in love with England’s healthcare system if you call that competent you have a lot to learn.
Report Post »dwilco77
Posted on November 23, 2011 at 6:48pmTo Jrook
Careful what you ask for.
Report Post »People with inferior intelligence levels will be deemed not useful enough to warrant healthcare resources in a Socialized Healthcare system.