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ACA Champion Becerra Confirmed As HHS Chief

ACA Champion Becerra Confirmed As HHS Chief

Source : Medtech Insight

Xavier Becerra has been appointed to lead the Department of Health and Human Services by the US Senate in the most narrow and partisan vote for the position in recent history. His confirmation was only possible after Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, crossed party lines to vote for him.

Becerra was confirmed on 17 March in a 50-49 vote. Democratic Sen. Mazie Hirono of Hawaii was the sole absent vote.

While HHS secretary confirmations tend to be somewhat easy affairs that garner bipartisan support even during hyper-partisan Senates, Becerra’s nomination was met with a slew of hurdles from the start. ()

He wasn’t the Biden administration’s first pick for the job and was instead being considered for US attorney general. However, after Rhode Island Democratic Gov. Gina Raimondo turned down the job, the Biden transition team was left scrambling to find a replacement -- which they did in Becerra. ()

Republicans, however, had a slew of reasons to oppose Becerra’s nomination, including his pro-abortion stance and his defense of the Affordable Care Act (ACA). The former California attorney general and US congressman, who served not only on the powerful House Ways and Means Committee but also lead the House Democratic Caucus during his tenure, has a reputation as a staunch supporter of the ACA.

During his time at the House, Becerra worked to protect the Obama-era healthcare law from being nixed by Republicans. He continued that work after becoming the California AG by filing lawsuits against the Trump administration for their efforts to dismantle it.

As the new head of HHS, Becerra’s likely initial focus will be the COVID-19 pandemic. The administration has set ambitious goals for increasing coronavirus testing and getting the entire population vaccinated by the end of May, and the new HHS secretary will play a critical role in directing his department and agencies to meet those goals.

Unlike officials in the previous administration, who tried to downplay the ACA while being forced to implement it by law, Becerra will likely push for bolstering plans in the healthcare exchange and trying to get more Americans insured through it. He’s also expected to use his seat, including that of the federal government’s purchasing power, to lower drug prices. ()

After being virtually sworn in into his new job on 19 March, Becerra posted a photo of the event on his new Twitter handle and said, “This pandemic has really changed everything ... Together, we’ll expand access to health care and bring the peace of mind that comes with knowing you can keep your families healthy.”

This pandemic has really changed everything... Proud to be virtually sworn in as @HHSGov Secretary, and ready to serve.
Together, we’ll expand access to health care and bring the peace of mind that comes with knowing you can keep your families healthy. pic.twitter.com/Xw1bIGUqyt

One issue Becerra will likely get pulled into immediately is the administration’s recent decision to pause the Medicare Coverage of Innovative Technology Rule (MCIT). It was set to go into effect 15 March, and would have automatically cleared breakthrough devices to get reimbursement from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) as soon as they are allowed on the market by the US Food and Drug Administration; two agencies now under Becerra’s leadership. ()

Becerra’s also likely to get pulled into disputes over a Trump administration regulatory review proposal, known as the Securing Updated and Necessary Statutory Evaluations Timely (SUNSET) rule. Enforcement of the rule, which would mandate that HHS review most regulations every 10 years and amend or revoke them as necessary, has been delayed to 2022 after a coalition of health care groups filed a lawsuit to block it. ()

Mark Leahey, CEO of the Medical Device Manufacturers Association, congratulated Becerra on his confirmation and said the industry group was committed to working with the administration to fight COVID-19.

“Numerous challenges lie ahead for patients and physicians as they navigate the health care delivery systems, which is why it is so critical that we work together to implement programs like MCIT,” he added.

During his confirmation process, Becerra promised that he will let science rather than politics inform his decision-making, and said that he would pursue expansion of telehealth reimbursement and hospital procedure price transparency. ()

By Ferdous Al-Faruque