By Michael A. Fletcher and Ceci Connolly
Washington Post Staff Writers


Kansas Gov. Kathleen Sebelius accepted President Obama’s request to become his Health and Human Services secretary, stepping into a central role in the new administration’s ambitious effort to overhaul the nation’s health care system.

Sebelius’s nomination comes just days before the White House is scheduled to convene a summit on health reform, an early step in the president’s ambitious plan to vastly expand the reach of the nation’s health care system. A formal announcement of her nomination will come on Monday.

The summit, which is expected to be the first in a series of open meetings around the country, is intended to spotlight the challenges spawned by the nation’s balkanized health care system — including soaring costs and gaping holes in coverage. It is also aimed at rallying public support for an overhaul certain to draw ideological and industry opposition. Similar to last week’s “fiscal responsibility” summit, the health session will open with remarks by Obama and then divide into working groups run by administration officials.

If confirmed by the Senate, Sebelius would fill a vital Cabinet position originally slated to go to former Sen. Thomas A. Daschle….

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