CMS Administrator to Step Down

On January 16, Marilyn Tavenner, Administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), announced that she would resign from the position at the end of February. Ms. Tavenner, who has been with CMS since 2010, was confirmed by the U.S. Senate as Administrator in 2013.

Upon her departure, Ms. Tavenner will be replaced by Andy Slavitt, the second-ranking official at CMS.  Mr. Slavitt will need Senate confirmation to become the permanent replacement.

Ms. Tavenner has served at CMS during the implementation of the Affordable Care Act, and also oversees the Medicare program.  Ms. Tavenner started her career as a nurse and then held executive positions in the private hospital sector.  She later was employed by Hospital Corporation of America and then served as Secretary of Health and Human Resources in Virginia.

ASA will continue to advocate on behalf of physician anesthesiologists by working with Mr. Slavitt on physician payment and other Medicare policy issues.