Senate Finance Committee Approves Marilyn Tavenner to Lead Medicare, Medicaid

Marilyn Tavenner to Lead Medicare, MedicaidFinance Chairman Says Tavenner’s Experience Makes Her the Right Choice to Lead CMS

Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus (D-Mont.) yesterday applauded the committee’s approval of Marilyn Tavenner to be administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) by a unanimous voice vote.  At a committee hearing to consider her nomination on April 9, Senator Baucus said that as administrator, Tavenner must work to strengthen Medicare and Medicaid for the future, combat fraud to protect taxpayer dollars, and have the new health insurance marketplaces ready to launch this fall.

“We need a strong, effective administrator at CMS to make sure Medicare and Medicaid run effectively and efficiently,” Senator Baucus said.  “Marilyn’s vast experience and thorough understanding of health care administration make her the right choice for administrator of CMS. I look forward to working with her as we work to strengthen our health care safety net and implement the health care law.”

Tavenner began her career in health care as a nurse in 1981, steadily rose through the private sector in hospital administration, and served the Commonwealth of Virginia as secretary of health and human resources for four years.  She joined CMS in 2010 as principal deputy administrator – CMS’ second-ranking official – and oversaw policy development and implementation.  Tavenner became acting administrator of CMS in 2011 and was re-nominated this year.