HCFA Nominee, "Knowledgeable Health Care Professional"

(WASHINGTON, D.C.) March 23, 2001 -- Carl B. Feldbaum, President of the Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO) issued the following statement on the announcement today of the nomination of Thomas Scully, Esq., to be the next administrator of the Health Care Finance Administration (HCFA):

“In Mr. Scully, President Bush has chosen a knowledgeable health care professional who has significant administration experience and the substantive background to make HCFA an agency which has the potential to recognize the innovative benefits biotechnology brings to medicine.

“Mr. Scully’s background in leading the Federation of American Health Systems has undoubtedly made him aware of the need to modernize the agency’s hodge-podge of bureaucratic rules and regulations. Updating HCFA’s operations are critical to the healthcare of millions of U.S. citizens, particularly if there is to be forward movement on a Medicare prescription drug benefit.”

BIO represents more than 950 biotechnology companies, academic institutions, state biotechnology centers and related organizations in all 50 U.S. states and 33 other nations. BIO members are involved in the research and development of health care, agricultural, industrial and environmental biotechnology products.

###