Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Cleveland Clinic CEO Emerges As A Front-Runner For Tough VA Secretary Spot
Modern Healthcare: Cleveland Clinic CEO Toby Cosgrove Named As Contender For Trump's VA Pick
Cleveland Clinic CEO Dr. Toby Cosgrove was among prospective cabinet picks who met with President-elect Donald Trump on Tuesday. Cosgrove is reportedly a contender to lead the Veterans Affairs Department. Cosgrove and Luis Quinonez, the president of a company that provides healthcare services to the military, are the leading prospects for VA secretary, according to a Bloomberg report citing an anonymous source. Trump has said he intends to carry out a complete overhaul of the department and its healthcare system, which two years ago was engulfed in a scandal over excessive wait times for veterans seeking care. (12/21)
Politico Pro: Cleveland Clinic Chief Is Trump's Favorite For VA Secretary
Cleveland Clinic CEO Toby Cosgrove has emerged as the top contender to be Donald Trump’s secretary of Veterans Affairs, a selection that would bring more private-sector experience to a Cabinet already stocked with it. Multiple sources briefed by Trump’s transition team said that while no decision has been made, the president-elect wants the health care executive, who was also considered for the post by President Barack Obama two years ago, and that Cosgrove is mulling over the post. (Palmeri and Nelson, 12/21)
Meanwhile, Stat talks with Donald Trump's doctor —
Stat: One-On-One With Trump's Doctor: Hecklers, House Calls, And Why Obamacare Must Be Shut Down
On a frigid December afternoon, Dr. Harold Bornstein was talking about his most famous patient, President-elect Donald Trump. He hadn’t spoken with Trump since the election, and had no idea whether he would be asked to move his medical practice to Washington. But he also didn’t seem particularly worried about what the stress of the job might mean for the nation’s oldest president — a distinction he hadn’t considered until this reporter pointed it out. (Swetlitz, 12/21)
