CMS Administrator Tavenner to Leave, Slavitt Named Acting Administrator

Tavenner steps down at the end of February, citing no future plans. She cites success in Healthcare.gov enrollment and improved quality of care.

Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Administrator Marilyn Tavenner will step down from her job at the end of February, Health and Human Services Secretary Sylvia M. Burwell announced Friday.

Principal Deputy Administrator Andy Slavitt will become the Acting Administrator when Tavenner leaves, Burwell said in an email to HHS staff.

Tavenner came to CMS in 2010, a few weeks after President Obama signed the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. Her nomination as CMS administrator was confirmed by the Senate in May 2013. Burwell on Friday noted that Tavenner was "the first Administrator to be confirmed by the Senate in six and half years—and she was confirmed with overwhelming, bipartisan support."

Burwell praised Tavenner for delivering "historic results at the helm of CMS."

"Under her watch, the solvency of the Medicare Trust Funds was extended to 2030," Burwell said. "In addition, her work on healthcare quality helped our nation achieve a 17% reduction in hospital acquired conditions—saving an estimated 50,000 lives and $12 billion in healthcare costs." 

In a farewell email to CMS colleagues, Tavenner did not say what prompted her decision to leave CMS or what she would do after she leaves.

"I feel fortunate to leave here with a great sense of accomplishment, a wealth of knowledge, many new friends, and the comfort of knowing that the citizens of this country and I are in great hands with all of you and your incredible drive and commitment to continue transforming our healthcare system," she said.

Unfairly or not, Tavenner will be best remembered as leading CMS during the botched rollout of the federal health insurance marketplace in October 2013. That failure ultimately led to the resignation of HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius in April, 2014. Tavenner's email to CMS staff did not mention HealthCare.gov, but instead focused instead on enrollment successes, improved quality of care, a crackdown against Medicare fraud, and progress in controlling healthcare costs.

Slavitt, who has served at Tavenner's top assistance since he joined CMS last summer, has extensive experience in the commercial health insurance sector, where he worked for UnitedHealth subsidiary Optum.

"Andy joined HHS with over 20 years of private sector experience," Burwell said. "As Principal Deputy Administrator, he oversees HealthCare.gov and the Department's work to upgrade the consumer experience. In addition, Andy is responsible for cross-cutting policy and operational coordination for the agency's Medicare, Medicaid, CHIP, and Marketplace initiatives; combatting health care fraud; reforming healthcare delivery; and improving health outcomes."