Latebreakers: HHS insider nominated to head CMS

President Bush has nominated Kerry Weems, the current deputy chief of staff for Mike Leavitt, HHS secretary, to be the new CMS administrator. If confirmed by the Democratic-controlled Senate, Weems would replace the current acting administrator Leslie Norwalk and would be the permanent replacement for Mark McClellan, who resigned in October 2006. Weems has worked at HHS for 24 years, serving as acting assistant secretary for budget, technology, and finance and as CFO for the department. The nomination requires Senate confirmation.