A former nurse who worked her way up to management positions first at HCA and then at the state level has been named the principal deputy administrator at the CMS, according to an internal e-mail sent to CMS employees.
Marilyn Tavenner, a clinical nurse by training who rose to the rank of CEO of Johnston-Willis and Chippenham hospitals in Virginia and was named that state's secretary of Health and Human Resources in 2006, will head up the newly created Center for Medicare. The appointment makes Tavenner the second-highest ranking official at the CMS, which still lacks a permanent administrator under the Obama administration. Tavenner also served as the chairman of the Virginia Hospital Association and was an AHA board member.
Tavenner's hiring comes after the largest payer for healthcare services announced a restructuring, creating a new Center for Medicare and streamlining other departments to create the Center for Medicaid and State Operations, the Center for Program Integrity, the Center for Strategic Planning and the Office of External Affairs & Beneficiary Services.
Peter Budetti will head up the Center for Program Integrity as deputy administrator.
The actual restructuring could be approved in the next 60 days.
“This realignment will help CMS do our job better and help to improve service and quality for the millions of people who depend on our services,” acting CMS Administrator and Chief Operating Officer Charlene Frizzera wrote in the e-mail.
Between Medicare, Medicaid and a federally run children's health program, the CMS provides health insurance coverage to more than 90 million Americans.
What do you think? Post a comment on this article and share your opinion with other readers. Submit your comments to Modern Healthcare Online at
mheditorial@modernhealthcare.com. Please be sure to include your hometown and state, along with your organization and title.
