CMS Leadership Undergoing Significant Changes - April 28, 2010

On April 19, President Obama officially nominated Don Berwick, M.D., as the new administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). His nomination had been anticipated for weeks. Berwick is the president and CEO of the Institute for Healthcare Improvement, and also serves as adjunct staff member in the Department of Medicine at Boston Children’s Hospital, consultant in pediatrics at Massachusetts General Hospital, and professor at Harvard Medical School and School of Public Health. Berwick has reportedly selected Caya Lewis, who currently directs outreach and public health policy in the Health and Human Services Office of Health Reform, to serve as his chief of staff. During Berwick’s nomination process, Marilyn Tavenner will serve as acting administrator of CMS.