McClellan Announces Plans To Resign Position As CMS Administrator
As CMS administrator, McClellan oversees Medicaid and Medicare -- which together provide health benefits for about 90 million U.S. residents -- and manages a federal budget of about $600 billion (Zhang, Wall Street Journal, 9/5). One of his primary responsibilities during his tenure at CMS was administering the implementation of the Medicare prescription drug benefit, which began in January (Washington Post, 9/4). His resignation coincides with contract negotiations between Medicare and the private insurance companies that sponsor Medicare prescription drug plans, the New York Times reports. In addition, his departure comes "amid the midterm election campaigns, during which his handling of the new Medicare drug benefit has become an issue," according to the Times. Another "big piece of unfinished business" is the proposed cuts in Medicare physician payment rates, which are scheduled to take effect on Jan. 1, 2007, if Congress does not take action to stop the cuts, the Times reports. McClellan has proposed a 5.1% cut for 2007, with similar reductions in later years. Possible Successors
CMS Deputy Administrator Leslie Norwalk "is an obvious candidate to serve as acting administrator," although other officials also are being consider for the post, according to a White House official, the Times reports (Pear, New York Times, 9/5). Herb Kuhn, director of the Center for Medicare Management at CMS, is also a potential nominee, CQ HealthBeat reports (Reichard, CQ HealthBeat, 9/4). Comments
White House Press Secretary Tony Snow said, "He'll be missed by the president and the entire administration" (AP/San Francisco Chronicle, 9/5). John Rother, policy director for AARP, said, "His major responsibility has been to implement the Medicare Modernization Act and the drug benefit, which I think he has done extremely well." Rother added, "Obviously, he has a very bright future, and I'm sure he's got other options that are very attractive," noting that "a lot of people who know him thought that this would be a good year for him to move on" (Washington Post, 9/4). Chip Kahn, president of the Federation of American Hospitals, said, "He's done what he's signed on to do and in impressive fashion." Kahn added that the Bush administration's implementation of quality of care measures in the hospital system "is taking place and is set in motion" (CQ HealthBeat, 9/4). Robert Hayes, president of the Medicare Rights Center, said McClellan "was always on message." Hayes added, "He said the new [drug benefit] was running fine when the roof was caving in. But I do respect him. He was responsive when we brought individual cases of hardship to his attention" (New York Times, 9/5). Broadcast Coverage
NPR's "Morning Edition" on Tuesday reported on McClellan's resignation (Montagne, "Morning Edition," NPR, 9/5). The complete segment is available online in RealPlayer.
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McClellan Announces Planuri de a demisiona poziþia de CMS Administrator - McClellan Announces Plans To Resign Position As CMS Administrator - articole medicale engleza - startsanatate