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 . Dennis M. Murphy, the chief executive of Indiana University Health, and top executives of five other hospital systems in Indiana endorsed Ms. Verma, saying in a joint statement that she had shown a knack for “bipartisan solutions that unite people across the political spectrum.” 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 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 .