Senate confirms Xavier Becerra as HHS secretary
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The United States Senate on Thursday confirmed Xavier Becerra as HHS secretary.
Although the vote to confirm the former California attorney general was narrow — 50 to 49 — multiple medical societies, including the AMA, announced their support of the confirmation.
“The American Medical Association welcomes Senate confirmation of Xavier Becerra to be the next secretary of Health and Human Service,” AMA President Susan R. Bailey, MD, said in a statement. “His leadership will be tested early as he arrives amid a pandemic and challenges to the Affordable Care Act.”
She added that the organization “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 health care during this perilous time.”
The American Telemedicine Association (ATA) also released a statement in support of the confirmation.
The association noted that, during his confirmation hearing, Becerra said that he “wholeheartedly believes we’re going to be doing an expansion of telehealth.”
He also acknowledged the issue of broadband access during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“We must make sure communities have access to broadband,” Becerra said. “If we don’t learn from COVID-19 that telehealth can help save lives, then we’re going to be in trouble. So, I think we’re going to advance.”
The ATA said it also supports “the expansion of broadband access to help close the ‘digital divide’ to address the inequities that currently exist in health care.”
The American Association of Nurse Practitioners (AANP) announced its support of Becerra’s confirmation, as well.
In a press release, Sophia L. Thomas, DNP, APRN, FNP-BC, PPCNP-BC, FNAP, FAANP, president of AANP, said that nurse practitioners “stand ready to work with Secretary Becerra, HHS and the Biden administration to address the critical health care issues facing our nation, including expanding access to high-quality health care to diverse populations, encouraging patients to get the COVID-19 vaccine as soon as it is available to them, as well as treating the influx of patients who are currently battling this devastating disease.”
References:
- AMA. AMA: Becerra confirmation is welcome news as health challenges await. https://www.ama-assn.org/press-center/ama-statements/ama-becerra-confirmation-welcome-news-health-challenges-await. Accessed March 18, 2021.
- ATA. ATA Congratulates Xavier Becerra Upon His Confirmation As Secretary of Health and Human Services. https://www.americantelemed.org/press-releases/ata-congratulates-xavier-becerra-upon-his-confirmation-as-secretary-of-health-and-human-services/. Accessed March 18, 2021.
- C-SPAN. Senate Confirms Xavier Becerra as HHS Secretary, 50-49. https://www.c-span.org/video/?c4952615/senate-confirms-xavier-becerra-hhs-secretary-50-49. Accessed March 18, 2021.
- PR Newswise. AANP Congratulates Secretary Xavier Becerra of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/aanp-congratulates-secretary-xavier-becerra-of-the-us-department-of-health-and-human-services-301250498.html. Accessed March 18, 2021.