She played a big role in drafting the American Health Care Act.
Indian American Seema Verma, the Administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, played a significant hand in drafting American Health Care Act that was passed by the House of Representatives on Thursday.
Verma, who was appointed by President Trump as the CMS administrator on March 14, 2017, is one of the most influential Indian American in the Trump administration, along with US Ambassador to the UN Nikki Haley.
“Today is the first of what I am confident will be many historic days ahead as we move toward patient-centered healthcare instead of government-centered healthcare,” Verma said after the House of Representatives vote. “I have worked in the field of Medicaid for 20 years and have heard from many mothers like myself who have shared their struggles and their hopes for a more affordable, more sustainable healthcare system. It is important that our most vulnerable citizens, the aged, the infirm, the blind and the disabled have more choices, greater access and peace of mind when it comes to their healthcare.”
She added: “The bill that was passed today is a great first step achieving this goal.”
The bill that passed the House today is a great first step to achieve affordable sustainable healthcare #AHCA https://t.co/2hKDpo2XXz
— Administrator Seema Verma (@SeemaCMS) May 4, 2017
As the head of the Medicare and Medicaid Services, Verma is the official tasked with administering Medicare and Medicaid. If the Obamacare is indeed replaced by a new Trumpcare, she will play a big role in its implementation.
Before her induction into the Trump administration, Verma was the CEO of a health policy consulting firm SVS Inc, a firm she founded. There she was the architect of Healthy Indiana Plan (HIP), which has been billed as the country’s first consumer-director Medicaid program. The health insurance program, designed for people with low income, requires participants to pay into a health savings account and has high deductibles.
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnel had earlier said that Verma understands the challenges Obamacare has created for families.
But when it comes to the new healthcare bill, Verma is not on the same page as the Indian American members of Congress. The bill has been opposed by all four members from the community.
Earlier, Verma’s appointment opposed by Sen. Kamala Harris, who is part Indian American, who had voted against her appointment in the senate and voiced her disagreement with Verma’s ideas to “cap and cut” Medicaid and her views on maternity coverage.
I voted NO on Seema Verma to head Medicare & Medicaid. I disagree with her ideas to cap & cut Medicaid and her views on maternity coverage.
— Vice President Kamala Harris (@VP) March 13, 2017