Orrin Hatch

Senate Finance Committee Republicans have submitted a deficit-reduction proposal to the super committee calling for a repeal of the Affordable Care Act and significant changes to Medicare and Medicaid.

Senate Finance Committee Chairman Sen. Max Baucus (D-MT) said that he and fellow Democrats are flexible in their response to Republican attempts to repeal the Affordable Care Act's maintenance-of-effort requirements for Medicaid.

President Obama announced Wednesday that he has renominated Donald Berwick to head the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, six months after naming him chief during a Congressional recess. The first time, Obama bypassed what promised to be contentious Senate confirmation hearings. But this week's move is expected to put Berwick back on the hot seat with many lawmakers.

Dr. Donald Berwick, administrator of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, delivered testimony before the Senate Finance Committee Wednesday that reflected his support of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. But committee members did not feel they had adequate time during the hearing to ask Berwick about his views.

Senate Republicans have introduced legislation that would repeal the Independent Payment Advisory Board (IPAB) that is part of the healthcare reform law.