Chernof, Warshawsky to lead long-term care panel

The recently appointed federal Commission on Long-Term Care has elected its top two leaders and announced it will hold its first meeting June 27.

Established in the American Taxpayer Relief Act—the legislation Congress passed at the start of the year to avert the fiscal cliff—the commission has 15 appointees, including nine who were chosen by the White House and congressional Democrats, and six who were selected by congressional Republicans. By law, the group is responsible for reporting a plan that would establish, implement and finance a comprehensive and coordinated system that ensures individuals have the long-term care services and supports they need. This week, the commission elected Dr. Bruce Chernof as chairman and Mark Warshawsky as its vice chairman.

Chernof, who was nominated by House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), is the president and CEO of the SCAN Foundation, which works to promote a continuum of care for seniors. Previously, he served as the director and chief medical officer for the Los Angeles County Health Department. Warshawsky, who was nominated by Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), is director of retirement research at Towers Watson and served in the George W. Bush Administration as assistant secretary for economic policy in the Treasury department.

“The work that lies ahead of us over the next few months will be critical in transforming our nation's system of care so that all Americans can age with dignity, choice and independence,” Chernof said in a statement.

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