President Bush Nominates New CMS Administrator

President Bush on Thursday nominated Kerry Weems, deputy chief of staff for HHS. Weems, who has worked within for the Department of Health and Human Services for 24 years, previously served as acting assistant secretary for budget, technology and finance and as CFO for the department. The nomination requires Senate confirmation. Weems would succeed former CMS Administrator Mark McClellan, who resigned in October 2006. Leslie Norwalk, who has served as acting CMS administrator since McClellan resigned, will remain at CMS during Senate confirmation hearings on the Weems nomination.