Washington -- President Bush has nominated Thomas Scully to be the next administrator for the Health Care Financing Administration. Scully must be confirmed by the Senate before assuming the position.

Currently president of the Federation of American Hospitals, Scully was deputy assistant to the president in the former Bush administration. He also served as counselor to the director of the Office of Management and Budget from 1992-93 and as associate director of OMB for human resources, veterans and labor from 1989-92. In these positions, he oversaw the fiscal policy and regulatory review of the departments of Health and Human Services, Education, Labor and Veterans Affairs. He also advised former President Bush on health care policy, Medicare and Medicaid payment reform.

Tom Connaughton, president of the American Association for Homecare, believes Scully is a good fit for the position. "He has a reputation as a problem solver and someone who really tries to get things done," Connaughton said. "Certainly, having represented the Federation of American Hospitals, he has an understanding of the frustrations of providers with bureaucracy and everything we have to go through, and we think that's very positive. It's a good step for providers. And he has had experience with home care from the perspective of hospitals, so it should be helpful to us."