Director of HHS Announces Realignment of CMS - April 7, 2010

On March 24, 2010, the Secretary of Health and Human Services, Katherine Sebelius, announced the first major realignment of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS) in ten years. The realignment coincides with the recent passage of comprehensive health reform, and will allow CMS to be better prepared for its role in implementation by placing emphasis in three areas: program integrity, beneficiary services, and strategic planning. Under the realignment, CMS will establish the following centers, reporting directly to the Administrator of CMS: Center for Medicare; Center for Medicaid, CHIP, and Survey & Certification; Center for Program Integrity; Center for Strategic Planning; and Office of External Affairs & Beneficiary Services. In addition, the following offices remain unchanged and report directly to the Administrator: Office of Equal Opportunity and Civil Rights; Office of Legislation; Office of the Actuary; Office of Clinical Standards and Quality; and the Office of Strategic Operations and Regulatory Affairs (which will be renamed the Office of Executive Operations and Regulatory Affairs).