Harvard professor nominated to head CMS

President Obama on Monday nominated Harvard University professor Donald Berwick for administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.

Berwick, president of the Institute for Healthcare Improvement that focuses on ways to improve healthcare services while cutting costs, has been mentioned as the likely candidate for the post for months.

"Dr. Berwick has dedicated his career to improving outcomes for patients and providing better care at lower cost," Obama said.

Berwick is both a clinical professor of pediatrics and healthcare policy at the Harvard Medical School and a professor of health policy and management at the Harvard School of Public Health.