For Immediate Release
July 7, 2010
Contact: Lauren Shaham, (202) 508-1219
AAHSA President Praises Appointment of Dr. Berwick to CMS Administrator
Washington - The American Association of Homes and Services for the Aging (AAHSA) applauds the appointment of Dr. Donald Berwick to head the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS).
"Dr. Berwick is the right person for this era of health transformation based on defined quality outcomes and new ways of serving the
needs of America’s seniors," said Larry Minnix, AAHSA president and CEO. "CMS has been without a permanent administrator for four years and faces an enormous
task in carrying out the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. Dr. Berwick’s leadership is essential as the agency works to implement health reform. We look forward to working closely with him on the implementation of the many innovations in long-term services and supports contained in the new law.
"We note in particular the 100,000 Lives and the 5 Million Lives Campaigns that the Institute for Healthcare Improvement undertook under Dr. Berwick’s leadership. These campaigns set out to protect patients from incidents of medical harm through educating hospitals on preventing common hospital-acquired conditions. The campaign is the model for the Advancing Excellence in America’s Nursing Homes campaign that AAHSA help found in October 2006."