June 4, 2001 - DaVita announced today that Nancy-Ann DeParle and William L. Roper have joined its Board of Directors. Both are former Administrators of the Health Care Financing Administration (HCFA). Maris Andersons and Shaul Massry left the DaVita board.

Kent Thiry, DaVita Chairman and CEO, commented, "Nancy-Ann and Bill can help us as Tom already has, to work towards achieving our objective of a more constructive partnership with the federal government. This partnership will help create a dialysis industry that is a role model for American health care, a role model which continuously and demonstrably improves patient care while efficiently spending taxpayer dollars."

As expected, Thomas A. Scully resigned his position on the DaVita Board of Directors. He was sworn in as the new HCFA Administrator last week.

June 1, 2001 - Thomas Scully was sworn in on May 29th as the new HCFA Administrator.

HCFA is the federal agency that administers Medicare. Medicare is the largest payer for end-stage renal disease (ESRD) services.

In October 2000, Mr. Scully became a member of the Board of Directors of DaVita, one of the largest dialysis providers in the US.

May 29, 2001 - On May 25, the full Senate confirmed Thomas Scully as the new Health Care Financing Administration (HCFA) chief.

May 25, 2001 - The Senate Finance Committee has approved the nomination of Thomas Scully to head the Health Care Financing Administration (HCFA). His nomination will now be voted on by the entire Senate.

May 22, 2001 - Thomas Scully testified last week at Senate Finance Committee hearings that he agrees with Health and Human Services Secretary Tommy Thompson that the Health Care Financing Administration (HCFA) needs an overhaul. Scully pledged to institute extensive structural changes if he is confirmed as head of the agency.

May 15, 2001 - The Senate Finance Committee plans to hold a confirmation hearing for Thomas Scully as new Administrator of the Health Care Financing Administration (HCFA) at 1:30 p.m., May 16.

Modern Healthcare is reporting that in order to take the $140,000-a-year job as HCFA Administrator, Thomas Scully will have to unload as much as $1.6 million worth of assets in publicly traded healthcare companies.

May 11, 2001 - Four former HCFA chiefs testified about needed changes to make the agency more effective.

May 2, 2001 - In what hopefully was a joke, Health and Human Services Secretary Tommy Thompson ("Double T" to GWB) said he is considering changing HCFA's name to the "Medicare and Medicaid Association," or MAMA for short.

April 27, 2001 - HCFA is 'hated' by everyone in healthcare, according to columnist Julie Rovner. Legislators criticize HCFA for its "heavy-handed anti-fraud tactics".

In other HCFA news, HHS Secretary Tommy Thompson told federal legislators this week that he wants to reduce the number of HCFA Medicare contract fiscal intermediaries.

April 10, 2001 - Modern Healthcare is reporting that Thomas Scully, who has been nominated to be the next head of the Health Care Financing Administration (HCFA), is keeping his corporate board seats and stock - for now.

Scully is currently a member of the Board of Directors of DaVita. His stock holdings will be disclosed in DaVita's annual proxy statement, which will be released later this month.

March 31, 2001 - On March 30, HHS Secretary Tommy Thompson nominated Ruben Jose King-Shaw Jr. to become deputy administrator of the Health Care Financing Administration. King-Shaw has been secretary of Florida�s Agency for Health Care Administration since 1998. Thompson said King-Shaw will function as chief operating officer at HCFA.

Kaiser Network reports in this story HHS Secretary Thompson's outline for changing HCFA.

March 23, 2001 - Thomas Scully, who currently is a member of Board of Directors of DaVita, has been nominated by President Bush to be the next head of the Health Care Financing Administration (HCFA).

March 13, 2001 - "One thing I learned during my confirmation in the Senate is that Democrats, Republicans and Independents alike...everybody loves to hate HCFA" said Tommy Thompson, secretary of the Health and Human Services.

Senators Frank Murkowski (R-AK) and John Kerry (D-MA) have introduced legislation establishing a health provider's right to challenge HCFA regulations. The bill will also allow providers to contest an overpayment determination and prohibit the HCFA practice of recovering overpayments by withholding future payments. Click here to view the text and status of Senate Bill 452.

March 6, 2001 - More and more sources are stating that Thomas Scully will become the new chief of the Health Care Financing Administration (HCFA).

Scully would take over HCFA at a time when the House of Representatives Energy and Commerce Committee is investigating HCFA's operations. Some believe the true intent of the hearings is create a push to privatize some of Medicare's programs.

February 17, 2001 - The dialysis world might find it has a friend in high places.

There are rumors (Roll Call) in Washington, DC that Thomas Scully, president and CEO of the Federation of American Hospitals, will be President Bush's choice to head the Health Care Financing Administration (HCFA). HCFA is the federal agency that administers Medicare. Medicare is the largest payer for end-stage renal disease (ESRD) services.

In October 2000, Mr. Scully became a member of the Board of Directors of DaVita, one of the largest dialysis providers in the US.

As of December 31, 2000, DaVita operated 486 outpatient dialysis facilities serving 41,000 patients, including 4,400 patients in 48 centers under management. DaVita was previously known as Total Renal Care. Here is the DaVita web site and the company profile page that lists the members of the Board of Directors.


[This message has been edited by Gary Peterson (edited 06-05-2001).]