Trump elects Indian-American woman for top med job

She has become the second Indian-American woman to hold a top administrative post in the US. With decades of experience behind her and an education from some renowned universities, Seema Verma is now part of Trump’s ‘dream team’ of the medical services.

This is for the second time that an Indian-American woman has been nominated for a top administrative position in the US. US President-elect Donald Trump announced Seema Verma in charge of a federal agency within the health department of America’s healthcare system.

“I am pleased to nominate Dr Seema Verma to serve as Administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services,” Trump said in a statement.

“I am honoured to be nominated by President-elect Trump today,” Verma was quoted as saying.

Verma is part of the ‘dream team’ which is being said would transform America’s healthcare system. Verma’s inclusion in the team came along the nomination of Congressman Tom Prince as Trump’s Health and Human Services Secretary.

Currently, Verma is the President, CEO and founder of SVC Inc, a national health policy consulting company.

While nominating her, Trump also acknowledged Verma for her expertise and experience in the field. A leading expert in the country on medicare and medicaid, Verma would be serving as Administrator of Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.

“She has decades of experience of advising on Medicare and Medicaid policy and helping states navigate our complicated systems. Together, Chairman Price and Seema Verma are the dream team that will transform our healthcare system for the benefit of all Americans,” Trump said.

“I look forward to helping him tackle our nation’s daunting healthcare problems in a responsible and sustainable way,” Verma remarked.

While Verma annexed the position as the second Indo-American woman as a top administrative officer, Nikki Haley was the first one. Haley is the US envoy to the United Nations.

Verma joins office with an experience of 20 years in policy and strategic projects involving Medicaid, insurance, and public health, working with Governors’ offices, state medicaid agencies, state health departments, state departments of insurance, as well as the federal government, private companies and foundations.

She also supported Indiana, through development of the historic programme since its inception in 2007, from development of the enabling legislation, negotiating the financing plan with the state’s hospital association, developing the federal waiver, supporting federal negotiations and leading the implementation of the programme, including the operational design.

“Verma has extensive experience redesigning Medicaid programmes in several states. Verma is the architect of the Healthy Indiana Plan (HIP), the nation’s first consumer directed Medicaid programme under Governor Mitch Daniels of Indiana and then-Governor Pence’s HIP 2.0 waiver proposal,” said the presidential transition team.

Verma is based out of Indiana and also served the state’s health reform for the Obamacare in 2010. She holds strong credentials with a Bachelor’s degree in Life Sciences from the University of Maryland and Master’s degree in Public Health from John Hopkins University.