The Senate Finance Committee this Wednesday plans to hold a hearing on the nomination of Kerry Weems for administrator of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.

President Bush tapped Weems, a 24-year veteran of the Department of Health and Human Services, for the post in May. If confirmed by the Senate, Weems would have about 18 months through the end of the Bush administration to serve.

Meanwhile, Acting Administrator Leslie Norwalk plans to step down from her position on Friday. She has served as head of the agency since Oct. 15, 2006, when her predecessor, Mark McClellan, left to join the private sector.