After serving as CMS administrator for a little more than three years, Marilyn Tavenner has announced she will resign from her position effective the end of February. Tavenner was confirmed by Congress in May 2013 but had led the agency in an interim capacity since late 2011.

As administrator, Tavenner manages the federal agency's $820 billion budget, 10 regional offices and more than 4,000 employees across the country. Prior to taking on the top position for CMS, which has oversight of health coverage for 100 million Americans, Tavenner had served as the second-ranking official in the role of principal deputy administrator. 

Previously, she served for four years as the Commonwealth of Virginia's Secretary of Health and Human Resources. Prior to that, she spent 25 years with Nashville-based Hospital Corporation of America. She began her long career with HCA as a nurse at the Johnson-Willis Hospital in Richmond, Va. Tavenner steadily rose through the ranks at HCA and was group president of Outpatient Services by the time she left the company in 2005.

Tavenner is an active member of a number of professional and volunteer organizations. She has served as a board member for the American Hospital Association and as president of the Virginia Hospital Association. In addition, she has been recognized for her volunteer work and is a past recipient of the March of Dimes Citizen of the Year Award.

REACTIONS FROM COLLEAGUES:

Statement by Rich Umbdenstock

President & CEO, American Hospital Association

As both CMS administrator and deputy before that, Marilyn leaves a legacy of having played a major role in making sure that millions of Americans have access to health coverage.  Moreover, she has provided leadership in making care better by working with the provider community in launching key performance improvement efforts. As a nurse, health care executive and government official she brought a practical perspective to running a very complex government agency.  Her ability to work in a bipartisan manner with legislators and listen carefully to the concerns of hospitals and other stakeholders was key to her effectiveness as a leader.  Combine them all together with her honesty, integrity and determination and you have a role model for public service.