Baucus wants vote next week on CMS nominee

Baucus told reporters later Tuesday that he hopes to hold a vote next week, which would then send her nomination to the full Senate.

Tavenner would be the first CMS administrator in roughly six years to actually win Senate confirmation. She was initially nominated in 2011, but never received a hearing before the Finance Committee, which Baucus chairs.

The committee has moved more quickly on her renomination. Baucus said he scheduled the hearing shortly after receiving her paperwork from the administration, and Tuesday’s hearing suggested a bipartisan willingness to give CMS the stability of a confirmed administrator.

— Bernie Becker contributed