WASHINGTON--On Tuesday, members of the Senate Finance Committee "shopped short" of endorsing CMS Acting Administrator Leslie Norwalk as the agency's permanent head, CQ HealthBeat reported.

Norwalk took over as interim head of the agency in October when former Administrator Mark McClellan left the post. (See HomeCare Monday, Oct. 2, 2006.)

According to the article, committee Chairman Max Baucus, D-Mont., said, "I think they need some fresh blood, frankly. They just need to get a good person."

Sen. Charles Grassley, R-Iowa, a ranking member of the committee, which oversees Medicare and Medicaid, said he has not decided whether he would support Norwalk as a nominee for CMS administrator.

Since joining CMS five years ago, Norwalk has served in positions including COO, acting director of the Center for Beneficiary Choices and counselor to McClellan's predecessor, former Administrator Thomas Scully. After Scully's departure in December 2003, she remained as the agency lead in carrying out Medicare reform legislation.

According to CQ, Norwalk and Deputy Acting Administrator Herb Kuhn were considered the "two top candidates" for the job after McClellan resigned.