Grassley has hired Linda Fishman, a senior policy advisor to the administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. Fishman was a member of the professional staff of the House Committee on Ways and Means' Health Subcommittee from 1999 to February 2001. There, she was the lead staff member on the two major Medicare bills passed by the 106th Congress. Prior to that, Fishman held several positions with the Association of American Medical Colleges in Washington, D.C., from 1987 to 1999. Her last position was associate vice president for governmental relations.
Fishman holds a bachelor of arts degree and a master's degree in business administration from the University of Washington in Seattle.
As health policy director, Fishman will oversee the development of health policy for the Finance Committee's Republicans, whom Grassley leads.
Grassley said he was pleased to have Fishman come on board. "Health policy is a major area under the Finance Committee's jurisdiction, and it's important to have an experienced staff in place to work on key quality of life issues like Medicare and prescription drugs," Grassley said.