Any health care funding plan that is just, equitable, civilized and humane must - must - redistribute wealth from the richer among us to the poorer and the less fortunate. Excellent healthcare is by definition re-distributional.

On January 8 2013 Berwick declared his possible interest in running as a candidate for governor of Massachusetts. He is the co-author of several books including Cholesterol Children and Heart Disease: an Analysis of Alternatives (1980) Curing Health Care (1990) and New Rules: Regulation Markets and the Quality of American Health Care (1996). He is also a pediatrician Adjunct Staff in the Department of Medicine at Children's Hospital Boston and a Consultant in Pediatrics at Massachusetts General Hospital.

In March 2012 he joined the Center for American Progress as a Senior Fellow. Prior to his work in the administration he was President and Chief Executive Officer of the Institute for Healthcare Improvement a not-for-profit organization helping to lead the improvement of health care throughout the world. On July 7 2010 Barack Obama appointed Berwick to serve as the Administrator of CMS through a recess appointment.