“After five years – and countless hours – one of our most esteemed and accomplished colleagues, Administrator Marilyn Tavenner, has decided to move on from HHS, leaving us at the end of February,” Burwell said in a note sent to HHS staff.
Principal Deputy Administrator Andy Slavitt has agreed to become the CMS Acting Administrator, according to HHS.
“Under [Marilyn Tavenner’s] watch, the solvency of the Medicare Trust Funds was extended to 2030. In addition, her work on health care quality helped our nation achieve a 17 percent reduction in hospital acquired conditions – saving an estimated 50,000 lives and $12 billion in health care costs,” Burwell said. “Marilyn delivered historic results at the helm of CMS.”
Tavenner joined the agency in February 2010 and was appointed as CMS official head in 2013, when federal insurance market place started working. She was confirmed as Administrator with overwhelming, bipartisan support of the Senate, according to the note.
In the past few years Republican National Committee has been trying to build a case against Obamacare program that Tavenner implemented.
“ObamaCare and its unconstitutional mandate drives up health care costs, increases insurance premiums, hurts the quality of health care, raises taxes, and blows up the deficit,” the committee stated.
CMS is responsible for managing and implementing two government programs that provide insurance to about 123 million US citizens. Currently nearly 50 million older Americans and Americans with disabilities rely on Medicare, White House stated.
The agency’s budget for 2015 fiscal year is $897.3 billion, according to the Department of Health and Human Services data.
