Kansas Gov. Kathleen Sebelius (D) -- who presidential aides have named as the top choice for HHS secretary nominee -- said that she has not had any discussion with President Obama about the position, the AP/Boston Globe reports. Sebelius emerged as one of Obama's top candidates for the post after former Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle (D-S.D.) withdrew from consideration over a tax controversy. Obama's aides said that no final decision has been made and that they are continuing to review candidates. The AP/Globe reports that aides "are using extreme caution to avoid yet another embarrassing mistake."

The AP/Globe reports that many of Sebelius' health care reform efforts as governor "have been thwarted by the Republican-controlled Kansas Legislature." Sebelius said that despite some setbacks, she has been able to improve the state's health care system. She added, "I think we've made a lot of health care progress across the board," such as advancements in health information technology, reductions in childhood obesity rates and improved elder care. Sebelius continued, "We haven't gone as far as I would like in expanded coverage. I'd like to move farther to cover more Kansans." Prior to becoming governor, Sebelius served as Kansas' state insurance commissioner, during which time she expanded cancer screenings, secured health insurance for up to 18 months for residents who had lost jobs, and granted tax income deductions to alleviate insurance costs (Fouhy, AP/Boston Globe, 2/22).

Obama Names Health Resources and Services Administration Head

Mary Wakefield -- an associate dean for rural health at the University of North Dakota School of Medicine and Health Sciences and director of the university's Center for Rural Health -- is Obama's nominee for administrator of the Health Resources and Services Administration, an HHS sub-agency, The Hill reports. Obama said, "As a nurse, a Ph.D. and a leading rural health care advocate, Mary Wakefield brings expertise that will be instrumental in expanding improved services for those who are currently uninsured or underserved." He added that Wakefield's leadership will help to improve the Community Health Centers program, which serves many uninsured patients, and "address severe provider shortages." The Hill reports that presidents typically do not nominate heads of sub-Cabinet agencies until the heads of departments are secure. HHS and its sub-agencies do not have leaders named.

In addition to overseeing the community health centers program -- which Obama has said he wants to expand -- HRSA provides funding for medical-professional career development programs, such as financial aid programs for medical school students. According to The Hill, the agency is "relatively obscure" compared with HHS itself and its other sub-agencies, such as FDA and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Young, The Hill, 2/20).

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