Seema Varma , a health policy expert from Indian , will be the lead on the Trump administration ’s efforts to repeal the Affordable Care Act and implement a new form of Medicaid . The Senate voted their support of Verma 55 – 43 , giving her the responsibility of administration for the $ 1trn Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services . Verma was the lead on the Indiana Medicaid program , working with the now Vice President Mike Pence while he held the state governor position in Indiana . Verma ’s experience with Medicare is more limited . The Indiana model offers Medicaid services , but requires patients to pay premiums , add funds to health savings accounts and to engage in healthy behaviour for incentives . Verma has had wide support from conservatives , but Democrats such as Senator Edward J. Markey have complained that Verma has supported legislation that would negatively affect coverage for lower - income American families . Republicans plan to repeal large sections of the Affordable Healthcare Act or Obamacare , phasing out the Medicaid expansion that has provided health insurance for millions of citizens . Markey is concerned that Verma would push for legislation that would endanger the very sick and frail by putting them in high - risk pools . Verma has also expressed her belief that maternity care coverage should be optional , rather than required as it is under the ACA , a belief that has caused some concern .
Seema Varma, a health policy expert from Indian, will be the lead on the Trump administration’s efforts to reverse the Affordable Care Act and implement a new form of Medicaid. The Senate voted their support of Verma 55 – 43, giving her the position of administration for the $1trn Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. Verma was the lead on the Indiana Medicaid program, working with the now Vice President Mike Pence while he held the state governor position in Indiana. Verma’s experience with Medicare is more limited. The Indiana model offers Medicaid services, but requires beneficiaries to pay premiums, add funds to health savings accounts and to engage in healthy behaviour for incentives. Verma has had wide support from conservatives, but Democrats such as Senator Edward J. Markey have said that Verma has supported proposals that would negatively affect coverage for lower-income American citizens. Republicans plan to repeal large sections of the Affordable Healthcare Act or Obamacare, phasing out the Medicaid expansion that has provided health insurance for millions of citizens. Markey is concerned that Verma may push for legislation that would endanger the very sick and frail by putting them in high-risk pools. Verma has also expressed her belief that maternity care coverage should be optional, rather than required as it is under the ACA, a belief that has caused some concern.