New Push For Health Law CEO
Some health policy experts, including those at the Center for American Progress, are urging the president to install a chief executive to oversee the law's implementation to avoid any further difficulties.
Reuters: Obama Allies Revive Push For Obamacare CEO
A group of healthcare experts close to the White House is urging the Obama administration to appoint a new chief executive officer to oversee Obamacare's online health insurance exchanges and safeguard the next open enrollment period that begins in six months. The recommendation, in a report due to be released by the Washington-based Center for American Progress think tank, calls for a major shakeup within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, which presided over last year's disastrous rollout of the federal market portal, HealthCare.gov (Morgan, 5/17).
Fox News: Obama Supporters Call For ObamaCare Czar To Avoid Another Rollout Disaster
The White House acknowledged Saturday being open to a proposal for President Obama to appoint a chief executive to oversee the Affordable Care Act -- an ObamaCare czar -- following the Department of Health and Human Services handling of last year’s disastrous rollout. The idea is being proposed by a group of healthcare experts that wants a new chief executive officer to oversee the ObamaCare online health-insurance exchange and to ensure the overall program is ready before the next open-enrollment period, which begins in six months. “We are working to make sure we learn from implementation and the turnaround of HealthCare.gov,” White House spokeswoman Jessica Santillo said. “While we have not reviewed this specific proposal, we will consider all ideas to improve implementation” (5/17).
In related news, the president names a longtime aide to oversee the health law implementation, among other priorities -
The Washington Post: White House Aide Named By Obama To Oversee Health-Care Law, Other Priorities
President Obama on Friday appointed longtime White House aide Kristie Canegallo as deputy chief of staff for policy implementation, to oversee issues that include the continuing rollout of the Affordable Care Act and better integration of technology in classrooms. The move, which comes three days before senior White House health-care adviser Phil Schiliro will step down, aims to institutionalize some of the changes chief of staff Denis McDonough made in the wake of the health-care law’s botched debut last fall (Eilperin, 5/16).