On December 2, Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services Administrator Don Berwick will step down from his post. Berwick had been nominated by President Obama as a recess appointment which expires at the end of this year. Forty-two Senators had stated they would block confirmation of Berwick to serve beyond his current tenure.

Marilyn Tavenner, Deputy Administrator at CMS, will be nominated as his replacement.  Tavenner is a former hospital administrator and Virginia Secretary of Health.  She is also a former nurse.