FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT:        Kathy Melley, (617) 791-0708

(BOSTON, MA) – The Biden Administration is poised to announce the appointment of Chiquita Brooks-LaSure to serve as Administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). CMS oversees Medicare, Medicaid and the Affordable Care Act, the three pillars of the U.S. health system that together provide health coverage to nearly 150 million people. During the Obama Administration, Brooks-LaSure served as a senior official at CMS where she oversaw implementation of the Affordable Care Act. Prior to that, she worked in Congress on the Democratic staff for the House Ways and Means Committee. She is currently a managing director at Manatt Health, where she has built a strong reputation with health advocates working to advance health equity.

Statement of Emily Stewart, executive director of Community Catalyst, in response to news reports that President Biden will nominate Chiquita Brooks-LaSure as Administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.

“We applaud President Biden for choosing Chiquita Brooks-LaSure as leader of CMS. From her leadership positions in the Obama Administration and on Capitol Hill to her work with states, Chiquita Brooks-LaSure has a strong reputation as a leader who understands what people need from our health system and what needs to change to advance health equity in our country.   We are eager to support her efforts to make Medicare and Medicaid work better for all people, and call on the Senate to swiftly confirm her appointment.”

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About Community Catalyst: 
Community Catalyst is a leading non-profit national health advocacy organization dedicated to advancing a movement for health equity and justice. We partner with local, state, and national advocates to leverage community power so all people can influence decisions that affect their health. Health systems will not be accountable to people without a fully engaged and organized community voice. That’s why we work every day to ensure people’s interests are represented wherever important decisions about health and health care are made: in communities, state houses and on Capitol Hill. For more information, visit http://www.communitycatalyst.org. Follow us on Twitter @CommCatHealth.