Trump nominates new CMS administrator

U.S. President-elect Donald Trump has nominated healthcare consultant Seema Verma, MPH, as administrator of the U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS).

Verma worked with Indiana Gov. Mike Pence, now the vice president-elect, to expanded Indiana's Medicaid program under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. The program, called the Healthy Indiana Plan, requires enrollees to meet a deductible and features a premium level that includes vision and dental coverage.

Verma is also the founder, president, and CEO of SVC, a healthcare policy consulting company based in Indianapolis.

If confirmed as the CMS administrator by the U.S. Senate, Verma would report to the secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, who will likely be Tom Price, MD.