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Next CMS administrator faces many challenges

Case Management Weekly, September 13, 2006

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Next CMS administrator faces many challenges

Even though the White House had advanced knowledge of CMS Administrator Mark McClellan's impending resignation, the high-level vacancy comes at an inconvenient time for a Bush administration entering its final two years of office. Traditionally, skilled political appointees typically think of leaving the government rather than joining it during the end of a president's term.

Either of the two top CMS officials mentioned as probable successors-Leslie Norwalk, deputy administrator, and Herb Kinn, who runs the fee-for-service portion of Medicare-will have to address huge policy challenge in 2007, including

• a scheduled cut in Medicare reimbursements to physicians
• a looming Medicaid commission report that is calling for drastic cuts in funding
• a decision whether to reauthorize the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP), which currently covers 4 million children
• how to fix Part D snags for millions of beneficiaries

In addition to policy challenges, the next CMS administrator can expect intense political scrutiny if the Democrats regain control of the House in November elections.

Source: The New York Times; Baltimoresun.com

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