“We commend Senate Finance Committee leaders for holding a hearing today on the nomination of Marilyn Tavenner to serve as administrator of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). She has served with distinction for more than a year as acting administrator, and is well-qualified to continue in the post.

Tavenner has the skills, experience and commitment to manage this essential agency, which oversees the Medicare and Medicaid programs that together provide health care to more than 100 million people.

This is a crucial time for CMS as it implements the health reform law, managing critical demonstration projects — including patient-centered medical homes and the Comprehensive Primary Care Initiative — that have the potential to transform the way care is delivered, improve quality and lower costs. The nation needs the stability of a confirmed director for this essential agency; seven years without one has been too long.

We urge every senator to vote to confirm Tavenner, as the nation will benefit tremendously from her continued service.

We hope that her speedy confirmation will be a harbinger of things to come. We need much more consensus and cooperation if we are to successfully tackle the problems facing our health care system and achieve the triple aim of better patient care, better health outcomes, and lower costs.”