Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
VA Nominee Working Hard Behind Scenes To Quell Senators' Skepticism Before Hearing
Rear Adm. Ronny Jackson was tending to grievously injured military personnel in Iraq when he was summoned to Washington to interview for a job he barely knew existed. He didn't see a way to get there. "I thought this was it — this is where the road stops," he told the Lubbock Avalanche-Journal this month. Instead, Jackson managed to catch a ride on a transport plane that steered the Levelland, Texas, native toward some of the loftiest corridors of power. (Kellman, 4/23)
President Trump's pick to lead the Department of Veterans Affairs is hearing skepticism from senators about his ability to lead the sprawling and often-troubled agency ahead of what could be a contentious confirmation hearing next week. Ronny Jackson, who now serves as the White House physician, has no experience running a bureaucracy like the VA, which has left senators in both parties questioning whether President Trump put personal ties above qualifications in making the nomination. (Weixel, 4/21)
In other news —
Dr. Murray Altose has developed a keen appreciation for the advantages and aggravations of veterans health care after nearly 30 years at the Northeast Ohio Veterans Affairs (VA) Healthcare System, which includes the Louis Stokes Cleveland Veterans VA Medical Center and outpatient clinics. Altose, 76, the longest-serving chief medical officer/chief of staff in the entire VA health care system, is retiring at the end of this month. (Albrecht, 4/22)
