Kerry Weems, Former Administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, Department of Health and Human Services
Biography provided by participant
In January, Kerry Weems ended a nearly 28 year career with the Federal government. Most recently, Weems held the position of Administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services and was also Vice-Chairman of the American Health Information Community. In those capacities, Weems implemented the Medicare eprescribing program, began pilot projects for electronic health records and personal health records, and instituted a number of landmark payment reforms, including non-payment for certain medical errors. Prior to that Weems served in a number of senior positions at the Department of Health and Human Services, including Deputy Chief of Staff, Chief Financial Officer, and Chief Budget Officer.
Weems has served both Republican and Democratic administrations and received the highest award for civilian employees, the Presidential Rank award, from Presidents Clinton and Bush.
Fraud is rampant in the Medicare and Medicaid programs, so the investment the President suggests is a welcome one. It is likely that the investment will achieve savings in the $2.7 billion range. It is worth noting that the amount the President is requesting is $113 million above the level requested by President Bush--a request that both the Republican and Democrat led Congresses ignored. (The recent omnibus appropriations bill finally included the amount requested by President Bush.) It remains an open question as to whether or not the Congress will agree to the increase. So, "why not," isn't this "no-brainer?"… Read more
The outbreak of the H1N1 influenza has been well handled by the government, so far. The response is a testament to our preparedness, but also to the professionalism of the career Federal employees and to the wisdom of our system of government. HHS, unlike many other cabinet departments, has relatively few political appointees. For instance, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention will typically have one or two appointees—the Director and perhaps an assistant. The same is true of the National Institutes of Health. Secretary Sebelius took the oath only a week ago with few appointees named and virtually none in place. The various… Read more
Medicare is in crisis, and needs urgent attention. Last year's Trustees Report showed that the Part A (Hospital Insurance) Trust Fund would be bankrupt in 2019 -- eleven years from the date of the report. In human terms, last year's crop of 54 year olds were told that, without action by the Congress, Medicare is a hollow promise for them. The Trustees will meet in the next couple of weeks, and the picture will be worse -- much worse. The downturn in the economy means that the Part A bankruptcy date is not 2019, probably 2016 or earlier. Those that are 58 this… Read more
In 1981 that Senator William Proxmire took to the floor of the Senate to filibuster an increase in the US debt limit. Senator Proxmire spoke for 16 hours and 12 minutes about the economic perils of authorizing a total debt of $1 trillion. In the intervening 28 years, the national debt has grown to ten times that amount, ending fiscal year 2008 at just over $10 trillion. Now in 2009, total annual deficits exceed the $1 trillion mark. It is in this context that President Obama’s fiscal summit must be viewed. The President should be commended for undertaking the summit, and let us all… Read more
Biography provided by participant
