McCain adviser will work with Hatch

The senior health policy adviser to defeated GOP presidential candidate John McCain has found a new job — as the senior health counsel to Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah.

Jay Khosla is joining Hatch, who is a member of the two main Senate committees with jurisdiction over health-care issues: the Finance Committee and the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee.

"Working for Sen. Hatch, who has led on legislation in so many vital health areas, is an honor," Khosla said. "I look forward to the opportunity to work with Sen. Hatch on many difficult issues such as improving health-care delivery and making health care more affordable and portable for all Americans."

Besides working for McCain, Khosla has also served as health counsel for the Senate Budget Committee — focusing on such issues as Medicare, the uninsured and underinsured and insurance reform. He filled a similar role for former Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist.

The Fairfax, Va., native has a law degree from the University of Richmond, a master's degree in health administration and a bachelor's degree in biology from Virginia Commonwealth University.

Hatch said, "Jay's first order of business will be to lead our health reform staff and work in Congress to develop meaningful health-care reforms."

— Lee Davidson