Seema Verma, the healthcare consultant most known for her work on the Healthy Indiana state Medicaid reform plan, was confirmed as Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services administrator by the U.S. Senate on March 13.

While much of the healthcare world was focused on the Congressional Budget Office's damning projections for the Republican healthcare reform bill on Monday, Verma was confirmed by a 55 to 43 vote.

Verma, who largely skirted questions during her confirmation hearing about her opinions on Medicaid and Medicare reform, as well as value-based reimbursement models and programs such as meaningful use, had worked on the Healthy Indiana project while Vice President Mike Pence was governor of that state.

Sen. Majority Leader Mitch McConnell celebrated the news on Monday and said Verma will help Health and Human Services Secretary Tom Price in the Republican Party's fight to repeal the Affordable Care Act.

Seema Verma has been confirmed by the #Senate to lead @CMSgov. With @SecPriceMD, she can help #RepealAndReplace the failure of #Obamacare

— Leader McConnell (@SenateMajLdr) March 13, 2017

That could be quite the challenge after the CBO on Monday said it projects the Republicans' healthcare bill, the American Health Care Act, would result in 24 million Americans losing their insurance coverage in a decade.

Verma replaces acting Admin Andy Slavitt, who has become a vocal opponent of Republican healthcare proposals since he left CMS in January.

This story first appeared on Healthcare Finance.

Twitter: @HenryPowderly
Contact the author: henry.powderly@himssmedia.com