Sylvia Mathews Burwell, director of the Office of Management and Budget, has been confirmed as the new health and human services secretary in a 78-17 bipartisan vote, the Associated Press reported Thursday.
Ricardo Alonso-Zaldivar writes Burwell is facing some remaining concerns with the Department of Health and Human Services‘ HealthCare.gov website despite the increased enrollments in the past year.
According to Robert Pear of the New York Times, Republicans are also looking to Burwell to address issues with the Affordable Care Act, such as incorrect health insurance payments due to unverified beneficiary information.
Pear reports the confirmation vote included 24 Republicans, 52 Democrats and two independents.
As HHS secretary, Burwell will also be in charge of the National Institutes of Health, the Food and Drug Administration, Medicare and Medicaid.
