Watchdogs Concerned About Gift From UnitedHealth To Nominee For An HHS Spot
Stephen Parente has been nominated to be the assistant secretary for planning and evaluation at the Department of Health and Human Services. “The timing doesn’t look good,” says Scott Amey of the Project on Government Oversight. “I think Mr. Parente should take some steps to assure the public that he’s working in the public interest, and not on behalf of United Healthcare or other donors."
Politico:
Backed By UnitedHealth, HHS Nominee Would Now Help Oversee It
Five months after President Donald Trump nominated Stephen Parente to be an assistant secretary for Health and Human Services, the nation's largest health insurer quietly gave a $1.2 million gift to a tiny academic research center that Parente helped found and served as director over the past decade. Parente, who is still awaiting confirmation as HHS’ assistant secretary of planning and evaluation, for which he was nominated in April, would head an office that often assesses policies that affect the insurance industry. It is currently researching the impact of Obamacare on the insurance market. (Diamond, 10/30)
In other news from the administration —
USA Today:
Speaking The Language Of Science In Administration That Often Eschews It
He joined a Republican administration last month that's often accused of downplaying or disregarding science, but the new surgeon general says he's "nonpartisan" and will let science and data drive his approach to the opioid epidemic. "It's more important than ever to have that objective voice," physician Jerome Adams said in his first sit-down interview since taking office. "Everyone's got their own opinion (but) make no mistake, the science does matter." (O'Donnell, 10/28)
The Hill:
Planned Parenthood Slams Trump’s Rumored Choice Of Women’s Issues Ambassador
Planned Parenthood sharply criticized President Trump on Saturday over his rumored nominee to be the next ambassador-at-large for global women’s issues at the State Department, saying her appointment would be like "putting an arsonist in charge of the fire department." Politico reported Friday night that Penny Young Nance was being considered for the post. Nance currently serves as the president and CEO of Concerned Women for America, a conservative women's group. (Bowden, 10/28)
