What Happens If 'Rock Star' Berwick Is Out?

I wouldn't go so far as to call Don Berwick a "rock star." But here's Meghan McCarthy, on video for The National Journal, dubbing him a sort of Mick Jagger of Medicaid and speculating on what happens to his loyal fans and groupies of the "quality" health care movement when and if Berwick is timed out of his post as administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.

She writes:

As Medicare is put under the microscope in the debt-ceiling talks, the clock is running out for Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Administrator Donald Berwick to be confirmed by Congress. Berwick took the job of director of CMS in July of last year, getting a recess appointment from President Obama while the Senate was out on break. Republicans have been blocking the confirmation of Berwick, whose controversial academic writings about rationing health care sparked the "death-panel" debate in 2009. If he isn't confirmed, his term will end in December. So what does that mean for health care policy?