Seema Verma asked taxpayers to reimburse $43K of stolen jewelry
CMS Administrator Seema Verma asked taxpayers to reimburse $47,000 worth of property that was stolen while she was in San Francisco for a speech. The claims include about $43,000 for two dozen pieces of jewelry, including a $5,900 pendant from the Ivanka Trump brand, Politico reported Dec. 7. Her property and jewelry were not insured.
Ultimately, Verma was reimbursed for nearly $3,000 of her lost property. The claim also included $325 for moisturizer and $349 for noise-cancelling headphones, Politico reported. Verma was partially reimbursed because HHS covers certain goods when they are lost during a work trip. However, HHS cannot reimburse for items like jewelry.
The report prompted at least one Congressman, Rep. Joe Kennedy (D-Mass.) to call on Verma to resign over a “gross misuse of public funds.” Kennedy previously grilled Verma during a congressional hearing earlier this year over $2 million in contracted public relations services, some of which was directed to promote Verma.
The jewelry controversy also comes at a time when Verma has faced other challenges, including a fraught relationship with HHS Secretary Alex Azar that has gained attention.
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Amy joined TriMed Media as a Senior Writer for HealthExec after covering home care for three years. When not writing about all things healthcare, she fulfills her lifelong dream of becoming a pirate by sailing in regattas and enjoying rum. Fun fact: she sailed 333 miles across Lake Michigan in the Chicago Yacht Club "Race to Mackinac."