CMS Finalizing Plans for Reorganization
Acting Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Administrator Charlene Frizzera notified agency staff in mid-February of plans for reorganizing CMS. The proposed reorganization has not yet been approved by U.S. Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Kathleen Sebelius, but is expected soon, with reorganization expected within 60 days. Noted changes include:
• Creation of a new principal deputy administrator position to be filled by Marilyn Tavenner, former secretary of Health and Human Resources in Virginia under Governor Tim Kaine (D). Tavenner will be the second-ranking official at CMS.
• The combining of the Office of Beneficiary Information with the Office of External Affairs, forming The Office of External Affairs and Beneficiary Services;
• The creation of new “centers” - The Center for Medicare; the Center for Program Integrity; the Center for Medicaid, CHIP and Survey & Certification; and, the Center for Strategic Planning - all to be led by deputy administrators reporting directly to the CMS administrator.
CMS will also oversee Medicare fee-for-service, managed care and the prescription drug benefit, which will be overseen by Jonathan Blum. Peter Budetti will join CMS as the new deputy administrator for the Center of Program Integrity.