2008-12-17

On December 11, President-Elect Obama officially announced his selection of former Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle of South Dakota to be Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS). It was also announced that Secretary-designate Daschle will lead the Obama Administration’s efforts to reform the nation’s health care system by serving as Director of a new White House Office on Health Reform. Secretary-designate Daschle must still be confirmed by the Senate after Obama is sworn-in as president in late January.

Although the economic situation will likely be the Obama Administration’s first priority, President-Elect Obama has signaled that health care reform will also be a top priority of both the Administration and Congress. Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus (D-MT) released his blueprint for health care reform in November and Senate HELP Committee Chairman Edward Kennedy (D-MA) has also announced his intention to draft a comprehensive health reform policy. 

During the official announcement of the Daschle nomination, the Obama transition team also announced a series of Health Care Community Discussions to be held by individuals across the nation from December 15 to December 31. The transition team will offer moderator kits for individuals who would like to host these discussions in their communities. Secretary-designate Daschle, who was a leader on health-related issues during his time in the Senate and earlier this year wrote a book on health policy entitled Critical: What We Can Do About the Health-Care Crisis, plans to attend some of the Health Care Community Discussions in person. The Obama transition's Health Policy Team will gather the results of the Health Care Community Discussions to help guide its health reform recommendations and discussion with Congress on health reform.

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