Trump picks healthcare transition leader
Senate Majority Leader advisor Andrew Bremberg will lead president-elect Donald Trump's healthcare transition team, according to Inside Health Policy.
Bremberg currently advises Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and was an advisor for Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker during his presidential bid. Bremberg was part of the transition team for former GOP president candidate Mitt Romney, according to the Washington, D.C.-based publication.
For eight years, Bremberg served in the Department of Health and Human Services. From 2005 to 2007, he was special assistant to the Immediate Office of the Secretary and from 2001 to 2005, he was special assistant to the executive secretary.
His appointment is not surprising, an analyst told Inside Health Policy, as Bremberg has been working on the Trump transition team since the Republican convention.
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He was on Walker's team when the candidate released a healthcare proposal that included repealing the Affordable Care Act.
Bremberg is expected to organize the workflow, policy and personnel for the HHS transition team.
Names reportedly under consideration for HHS secretary include former Louisiana Republican Gov. Bobby Jindal, former Republican presidential candidate Ben Carson, former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, Gov. Rick Scott, R-Florida, and former Rep. Renee Ellmers R-North Carolina.
Paula Stannard, a lawyer at Alston & Bird, is handling healthcare reform on the transition team, Inside Health Policy said. Stannard served as HHS acting general counsel for most of George W. Bush's two terms.
The Heritage Foundation has dozens of current staff members and alumni working on the Trump transition, according to the Wall Street Journal. That includes Ed Feulner, a founder of the group in 1973 and its president for 36 years, who is working with New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie and transition team director Rich Bagger.
Bremberg has served McConnell as policy advisor and counsel on nominations since 2014. He is a former department manager for MITRE, and from 2007 to 2009, served as chief of staff, Office of Public Health and Science, according to his LinkedIn account.
Twitter: @SusanJMorse
