Radiologists and other physicians praised a split Senate’s confirmation of Xavier Becerra as the new secretary of Health and Human Services on Thursday.
Lawmakers voted 50-49 to move the California attorney general’s nomination forward, with Becerra now becoming the first Latino HHS leader. Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, jointed Democrats in their affirmation, while Sen. Mazie Hirono, D-Hawaii, did not vote, according to published reports.
Several healthcare groups lobbied fiercely for Becerra’s confirmation in recent months and praised the final tally this week.
“The American College of Radiology looks forward to working with Secretary Becerra and his staff to ensure highly trained radiologists continue [to] provide timely access to appropriate imaging services for their patients,” ACR said March 18, adding that the former long-time congressman faces a “daunting task” continuing the fight against COVID-19 “in the wake of poor performance by the United States in comparison to other industrialized nations.”
The American Medical Association similarly applauded the move while acknowledging the challenges ahead. “The AMA believes he is the right person for the job and looks forward to working with him to ensure that all Americans have access to quality healthcare during this perilous time,” President Susan Bailey, MD, said in a statement.
Conservatives, meanwhile, have slammed Becerra for his record supporting abortion rights, gun control measures and the Affordable Care Act. In a tweet shared Thursday, the new HHS leader said he is “honored and humbled” by the final vote and “ready to get to work.”
Marty Stempniak has covered healthcare since 2012, with his byline appearing in the American Hospital Association's member magazine, Modern Healthcare and McKnight's. Prior to that, he wrote about village government and local business for his hometown newspaper in Oak Park, Illinois. He won a Peter Lisagor and Gold EXCEL awards in 2017 for his coverage of the opioid epidemic.