Obama’s Choice to Fix Healthcare — Tom Daschle

President elect Obama has named Tom Daschle as the next head of Health & Human Services (HHS), the agency that oversees Medicare. I was shocked by the choice and in talking with healthcare execs, there is a unanimous belief that this is a disaster for healthcare providers. I think that any expectation that the Obama administration will move to the center is destroyed with this appointment. There are very few people in this world that I have a visceral reaction to hearing their name — and Tom Daschle is at the top of the list. I can’t think of anyone who is more partisan in his approach, more scorch the earth in his actions than former Senator Daschle. If a Republican proposes something – anything – the idea is horrible. If a Democrat proposes something – anything – the idea walks on water. Senator Daschle joined Alston & Bird, an excellent international law firm, after leaving the Senate. Former Senator Bob Dole and former Medicare head Tom Scully are also with the firm. Prior to the election Alston & Bird sent out a mailer to clients with comments by both Senator Dole and Senator Daschle about the upcoming election. As …