Medicare Commission Head Wilensky Replaced as Concerns Grow over Health Care Investments; Other Commission Members Announced

Gail Wilensky, chair of the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission, which advises Congress on Medicare issues such as reimbursement rates, is being replaced over concerns about her "substantial investments" in health care companies, the New York Times reports. Wilensky has been chair of the committee and its predecessor panel since 1995 and she is a former head of HCFA. As comptroller general of the United States and head of the General Accounting Office, David Walker is responsible for appointing the commission's 17 members. Walker said he opted to replace Wilensky, who's term expired last month, because she owned more than $4 million in stock and stock options in eight health care firms. Walker also said he wanted to see some "turnover" in the leadership of the commission. Glenn Hackbarth, currently a MedPAC commissioner, has been named as Wilensky's successor (Pear, New York Times, 5/15). Hackbarth is also an independent health consultant and is formerly Chief Executive Officer of Harvard Vanguard Medical Associates, a multispecialty group practice in Boston, MA (GAO release, 5/15). The Times reports that Wilensky had attempted to keep her position but had "irritated" Rep. Bill Thomas (R-Calif.), chair of the House Ways and Means Committee, whose health subcommittee has jurisdiction over he health care programs of the Social Security Act -- including Medicare. Wilensky said, "My independence was troublesome" for some lawmakers, adding, "I say what I think." Wilensky also said that her work on the commission was not influenced by her investments. While members of the commission are required to disclose any financial interests they have in the health care industry, Walker said the chair should be held to a "higher standard" because of the "additional power and responsibilities" associated with the position. Walker also announced this morning that three new members have been appointed to the commission: Sheila Burke, undersecretary of the Smithsonian Institution and chief of staff to former Sen. Bob Dole (R-Kan.); Allen Feezor, health benefits administrator of the California Public Employees' Retirement System; and Ralph Muller, president of the University of Chicago Hospitals and Health System (New York Times, 5/15). In addition, the following MedPAC members have been reappointed: Joseph P. Newhouse, Ph.D., John D. MacArthur Professor of Health Policy and Management, Harvard University; Alice F. Rosenblatt, Chief Actuary and Senior Vice President, Merger and Acquisition Integration Team, Wellpoint Health Networks; and John W. Rowe, M.D., President and Chief Executive Officer, Aetna US Healthcare (GAO release, 5/15).