Tavenner Gains Early Support

American Medical Association
Peter W. Carmel, MD, president of the AMA, noted in the AMA's statement that with the "changes and challenges facing the Medicare and Medicaid programs, CMS needs stable leadership, and Marilyn Tavenner has the skills and experience to provide it." He said the AMA has worked extensively with her in her role as deputy administrator of CMS, and she has been "fair, knowledgeable and open to dialogue."

American Hospital Association
AHA President and CEO Richard Umbdenstock called Tavenner "a very capable administrator who has been a key player at CMS in her role as principal deputy administrator." In the AHA statement he credits her "varied and rich background as a former nurse, health care executive, and government official at the state level" with providing "a very unique perspective in understanding both the implications of public policy and their implementation. We have no doubt that she will provide strong leadership in these challenging times."

America's Health Insurance Plans
Karen Ignagni, president and CEO of AHIP, released a statement praising Marilyn Tavenner's "proven leadership ability and wealth of experience in both the private and public sectors are invaluable assets to CMS as it seeks to address the many health care challenges facing the nation.  We look forward to continuing to work with her to improve the quality, safety, and affordability of health care in America."

Association of American Medical Colleges
Darrell G. Kirch, MD, president and CEO of AAMC, said in a statement that Marilyn Tavenner "has been an important partner to the AAMC during her time at CMS, and we look forward to working with her as teaching hospitals and their physicians continue to lead changes in the healthcare delivery system. He credited her career as a nurse, hospital administrator, and head of Virginia's Department of Health and Human Resources as providing her with the "real-world understanding of the vital role that America's teaching hospitals play in the nation's health care system."