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Dialysis Discussion => Dialysis: News Articles => Topic started by: okarol on June 24, 2009, 05:01:34 PM

Title: Obama health czar was medical company director
Post by: okarol on June 24, 2009, 05:01:34 PM
Obama health czar was medical company director

By SHARON THEIMER, Associated Press Writer Sharon Theimer, Associated Press Writer Tue Jun 23, 5:45 pm ET

WASHINGTON – President Barack Obama's White House health care czar earned at least $2.3 million working for health care companies in 2008 and early 2009, including several that lobby in Washington.

Nancy-Ann DeParle disclosed compensation for her service on the boards of directors of Cerner Corp., Boston Scientific Corp., and Medco Health Solutions Inc. She also served as managing director of CCMP Capital last year through this February, and on the DaVita Inc. board of directors from January through July 2008.

DeParle, who worked on health policy in the Clinton administration, is the director of the White House Office of Health Reform. She and Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius are playing leading roles as Obama presses a national overhaul of health care.

DeParle reported a $1 million salary and bonus from CCMP; $684,859 from DaVita, including stock options; $471,343 from Cerner, including director's compensation and stock options exercised; and $144,250 from Boston Scientific and $13,500 from Medco in director's compensation.

DeParle also served on the boards of CareMore Health Plan and Legacy Hospital Partners as part of her work for CCMP Capital, a private equity firm in New York with stakes in both. She disclosed no compensation from CareMore or Legacy.

DaVita, a California-based company that provides kidney dialysis, spent $4.2 million in 2008 and at least $700,000 so far this year lobbying in Washington on such issues as Medicare, health information technology and kidney disease.

Medco, a pharmacy benefit manager that runs a mail-order pharmacy, devoted at least $3.5 million to federal lobbying from January 2008 through last March. Its issues included health information technology, federal rules on patient privacy and chronic care management.

Boston-based Boston Scientific spent $1.6 million last year and at least $450,000 so far this year lobbying in Washington on subjects including health research, coverage of chronic pain treatment and Medicare.

Kansas City-based Cerner, which provides health care clinical and management information systems and software, spent $370,000 last year and at least $55,000 so far this year lobbying in Washington on such issues as health information technology and patient identification.

California-based CareMore registered to lobby this year and has spent at least $50,000 lobbying on special-needs plans.

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White House Office of Health Reform: http://healthreform.gov/

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090623/ap_on_go_pr_wh/us_health_czar_boards_1