The Senate confirmed Marilyn Tavenner in a 91-7 vote Wednesday as Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services administrator, a role she has held on an acting basis since 2010, Reuters reports.
David Morgan writes CMS has not had a full-time chief since 2006, when Dr. Mark McClellan left the agency after he led implementation of the Medicare prescription drug benefit.
Tavenner was nominated during President Barack Obama’s first term but not confirmed, Morgan reports.
She served as Virginia’s secretary of health and human resources before joining CMS, according to Reuters.
Sen. Orrin Hatch said CMS processes nearly 1 billion claims per year for 100 Medicare beneficiaries and Medicaid recipients, Morgan reports.
