FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Media Contact: Ken Schwartz
[email protected]
202-600-3131
NCOA Lauds Berwick as New CMS Administrator
Will Be Critical to Implementing Health Care Reform,
Improving the Health of Seniors
Washington, DC (July 7, 2010) – The National Council on Aging (NCOA) expresses confidence in
Don Berwick’s ability to protect and strengthen the Medicare and Medicaid programs, as the new
administrator for the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS).
Dr. Berwick is one of the nation's leading authorities on health care quality and improvement. He
has dedicated his professional career to making sure affordable high quality health care is available to
all. Dr. Berwick has long recognized that to improve the health of all Americans, our health system
must give greater attention to chronic disease care, community-based care, primary care and
preventive care – priorities shared by NCOA.
“Don Berwick brings dedicated leadership to the complex issue of managing America’s health care,”
said Jim Firman, president and CEO of NCOA. “He has a long track record of working to improve
outcomes for older people and creating better value from our health care spending. His belief in
science and evidence-based approaches will be critical for CMS as it implements the new health care
reform law.”
Working with the Administration on Aging, Centers for Disease Control and a variety of private
funders including The Atlantic Philanthropies, NCOA has been a leader in developing and
promoting community-based strategies that enable older people to be partners in their care and
improve their health.
More recently, to help seniors get the facts they need, NCOA has developed “Straight Talk for
Seniors on Health Reform.” This information tool helps seniors examine the complexities of the
Affordable Care Act and understand what it means for themselves and their families. For more
information, please visit www.NCOA.org/StraightTalk.
About NCOA
The National Council on Aging is a nonprofit service and advocacy organization headquartered in Washington, DC. NCOA is
a national voice for older Americans—especially those who are vulnerable and disadvantaged—and the community organizations
that serve them. It brings together nonprofit organizations, businesses, and government to develop creative solutions that improve
the lives of all older adults. NCOA works with thousands of organizations across the country to help seniors find jobs and
benefits, improve health, live independently, and remain active in their communities. For more information, visit www.ncoa.org.