Obama officially nominates Sebelius, announces DeParle as health reform director

President Barack Obama’s nomination of Kansas Gov. Kathleen Sebelius to become the next HHS secretary is now official.

In Congress, Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus (D-Mont.) said he approved of the appointment, while Republican Sens. Pat Roberts and Sam Brownback, both representing Kansas, released a joint statement that said they look forward to working with Sebelius, 60. The president also named Nancy-Ann DeParle, 52, to serve as counselor to the president and director of the White House Office for Health Reform. DeParle’s previous experience includes serving as commissioner of the Human Services Department in Tennessee, and as administrator of HCFA—the predecessor agency to the CMS—during the Clinton administration.

“If we are going to help families, save businesses and improve the long-term economic health of our nation, we must realize that fixing what’s wrong with our healthcare system is no longer just a moral imperative, but a fiscal imperative,” Obama said in the official announcement. “Healthcare reform that reduces costs while expanding coverage is no longer just a dream we hope to achieve—it’s a necessity we have to achieve. And today, I am proud to announce key members of my team who will be critical to that effort: Kansas Gov. Kathleen Sebelius for my secretary of Health and Human Services, and Nancy-Ann DeParle as director of the White House Office for Health Reform.”

Meanwhile, Obama announced the release of $155 million from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act to support 126 new health centers. Administered by HHS’ Health Resources and Services Administration, the grants are expected to create about 5,500 jobs.

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