' Matt Cover went to the Capitol in hopes of getting answers from Donald Berwick, Obama's controversial and highly evasive recess appointment to administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid services. Berwick has yet to answer questions or hold a hearing - until yesterday. Cover writes:
The hearing attended by Berwick, who received a recess appointment from President Barack Obama and thus bypassed the normal Senate confirmation process, was the first in which he was called upon to answer questions from senators since he assumed his post at CMS in July. After the hearing, CNSNews.com tried to ask Dr. Berwick about controversial statements he has made about the nature of health care financing.
The question was in regards to comments Berwick made in 2008 while speaking of the British health care system in the UK in which he stated:
Any health care 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 health care is by definition redistributional.
Lo and behold, the elevator shut on him without an answer.
( h/t CNS News )
For more on the little-known Berwick, check out these posts:
Flashback: Donald Berwick “We Must Redistribute Wealth” Flashback: Donald Berwick Opposes Free Markets In Health Care