CMS Names Acting Director
CMS Deputy Administer Leslie Norwalk will serve as acting agency administrator beginning Oct. 15, when current administrator Mark McClellan plans to leave the agency, officials said Monday, AP/Centre Daily Times reports (Freking, AP/Centre Daily Times, 9/25). McClellan announced his resignation on Sept. 5, saying that he wants to spend more time with his family and that he will probably join a think tank or take a position in academia (California Healthline, 9/6).
Norwalk, who has been at CMS for five years, has served as the agency's chief operating officer and as acting director of its Center for Beneficiary Choices. Prior to joining CMS, Norwalk practiced law at the Washington, D.C., office of Epstein, Becker and Green and served in the White House Office of Presidential Personnel during the administration of George H.W. Bush.
One of the first tasks facing Norwalk -- who will remain acting administrator until a permanent administrator is nominated by President Bush and confirmed by Congress -- will be overseeing the next enrollment period for the Medicare prescription drug benefit, which begins Nov. 15 (AP/Centre Daily Times, 9/25).