Longtime Becerra aide and two health policy experts to be tapped for key posts

WASHINGTON — President-elect Biden and his top health deputies are expected to make a slew of new political appointments Wednesday.
Sean McCluskie, a longtime deputy of health secretary nominee Xavier Becerra’s, will be the agency’s chief of staff, three health industry lobbyists, a consultant for the transition, and a health care expert tell STAT. Topher Spiro, the outspoken health policy researcher at the Center for American Progress, a progressive think tank, will be head of health programs at the Office of Management and Budget, according to two other health lobbyists and both the consultant for the transition and health expert. Sarah Despres, the director of government relations at the Pew Charitable Trusts, will be a counselor to the health secretary, according to the consultant for the transition and health expert. Read the rest…