Saturday, April 11, 2009

The Associated Press: HHS nominee pledges Medicare, Medicaid fixes

By RICARDO ALONSO-ZALDIVAR – Apr 2, 2009

WASHINGTON (AP) — Kansas Gov. Kathleen Sebelius, President Barack Obama's choice for health secretary, told senators Thursday that she wants to transform Medicare and Medicaid with a focus on prevention and primary care.

It's imperative to steer resources "toward wellness rather than sickness," Sebelius said in prepared testimony for the Senate Finance Committee, where senators were expected to ask more questions about her policies and politics than about $7,000 worth of mistakes she made on her taxes.

Overseeing the giant government-run insurance programs for the elderly, disabled and poor would be a major responsibility, and Sebelius said improvements are needed.

Sebelius said that, if confirmed, she hopes to use technology to better align Medicare and Medicaid payments with quality care. The payments to health care providers are often criticized as alternately inadequate or excessive.....

The Associated Press: HHS nominee pledges Medicare, Medicaid fixes

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