Lambrew’s Departure Would Leave Clean Slate For Incoming Health Czar
This article was originally published in The Tan Sheet
Executive Summary
The expected departure of White House Office of Health Care Reform Deputy Director Jeanne Lambrew allows the next Health and Human Services secretary complete flexibility to bring in key health policy personnel as the Obama administration readies for an intense health reform debate in the coming months
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The expected departure of White House Office of Health Care Reform Deputy Director Jeanne Lambrew allows the next Health and Human Services secretary complete flexibility to bring in key health policy personnel as the Obama administration readies for an intense health reform debate in the coming months. Lambrew's likely exit from such a prominent role, coupled with the planned departure of HHS Chief of Staff Mark Childress, could indicate the administration is near to announcing an HHS secretary nominee (1 (Also see "Outlook For Sebelius At HHS Improves With Key Departure At Department" - Pink Sheet, 16 Feb, 2009.), p. 13). However, the chances that Kansas Gov. Kathleen Sebelius would be named to the post were damaged when it became apparent she would face substantial opposition from conservative Republicans in the Senate over abortion-rights issues, according to advisors to senior members of Congress. Sebelius had been viewed as the favorite for the HHS post based on her health care credentials and vetting during the presidential campaign as a possible vice presidential candidate. Former HHS Secretary Donna Shalala's name has emerged as a serious candidate to reprise her role under the Clinton administration. Shalala likely would have two prerequisites to consider the job: have both the HHS and White House positions, and be allowed to choose her own policy experts and senior managers for positions critical to the health care reform. Shalala, currently president of the University of Miami, publicly denied wanting the job. Nevertheless, Daschle privately said he had no interest in the HHS Secretary job just days before he was nominated by President Obama. Childress and Lambrew were signature appointments by one-time HHS Secretary nominee Tom Daschle. The odds of both remaining in their respective positions dwindled with Daschle's Feb. 3 withdrawal. Lambrew was viewed by many as the architect of Daschle's - and the administration's - health reform strategy, possessing policy credibility and sharp political skills. However, the perception that she was so closely linked to Daschle and his subsequent withdrawal may have been too much to overcome. - Ramsey Baghdadi ([email protected]) and Cole Werble ([email protected]) |