May 18, 2001

Muller named to MedPAC; Wilensky Cycles Off Commission

On May 15, General Accounting Office Comptroller General David M. Walker appointed three new members to the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC), including former AAMC Chair Ralph Muller. Commissioner Glenn M. Hackbarth, J.D., a health care consultant from Oregon was appointed Chair of the Commission replacing Gail R. Wilensky, Ph.D., who had chaired the Commission since its inception.

Robert D. Reischauer, Ph.D., former director of the Congressional Budget Office and president of the Urban Institute, has been appointed Vice Chair of the Commission, replacing Joseph P. Newhouse, Ph.D., from Harvard University, who was reappointed to a three-year term as a Commissioner. Other reappointments included Alice F. Rosenblatt, M.A.A, F.S.A, from WellPoint Health Networks and John W. Rowe, M.D., from Aetna U.S. HealthCare. Dr. Wilensky and Spencer Johnson from the Michigan Health and Hospital Association cycled off the commission.

The newly appointed commissioners are:

• Sheila P. Burke, undersecretary for American Museums and National Programs at the Smithsonian Institution;
• Allen D. Feezor, assistant executive officer, Health Benefit Services for the California Public Employees Retirement System; and
• Ralph W. Muller, president, University of Chicago Hospitals and Health Systems.
  
  Mr. Muller has served as the Chair of the AAMC's Council of Teaching Hospitals and Health Systems and is the immediate past chair of the AAMC. The AAMC and the AHA had both nominated Mr. Muller to serve on the Commission.
  
  Information: Karen Fisher or Jeff Patyk, AAMC Division of Health Care Affairs, 202-828-0490.