Home Health & Hospice Week

It wasn't pretty, but it's official. Mark McClellan, MD, is the new Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Administrator. The Senate confirmed McClellan by voice vote March 11, after Sen. Byron Dorgan (D-ND) released the hold he had placed on the nomination over McClellan's refusal to testify before the Senate Commerce Committee regarding the importation of cheaper Food and Drug Administration-approved drugs from abroad without the manufacturer's consent. Dorgan favors allowing importation -- often called "reimportation" because most of the drugs originate from U.S. plants -- while McClellan has consistently said the FDA does not have the resources or authority under current law to ensure the drugs' safety. McClelland has headed the FDA since November 2002. McClellan, who had said he would appear in front of Commerce only after being confirmed as CMS administrator, reversed course and testified there in a contentious hearing March 11. "Many who have met McClellan, including [National Association for Home Care and Hospice] President Val J. Halamandaris, have a favorable impression of him and speculate that he will be supportive of home health and hospice services," NAHC says.