President-Elect Barack Obama will nominate former Sen. Tom Daschle as Secretary of HHS to lead the new administration's healthcare policy overhaul. Daschle, after confirmation, will also direct a new White House health policy office, suggestive that addressing the nation's healthcare challenges is an Obama priority. In addition, by creating a White House office for health policy, the president-elect leaves no doubt as to who will guide healthcare decision-making, which was a bone of contention that derailed such efforts during the Clinton years.

The Department of Health and Human Services oversees Medicare, Medicaid, the FDA, CDC, NIH and many other health agencies, offices, and programs.

Daschle is the former Senate Majority Leader. The South Dakota Congressman served as Senate majority and later minority leader before losing re-election in 2004.