The American Nurses Association (ANA) and PSNA applauded today’s vote by the Senate to confirm Marilyn Tavenner, MHA, BSN, RN, as the permanent head of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). Tavenner, a former Intensive Care Unit (ICU) nurse, has served as chief executive officer of the Hospital Corporation of America (HCA) and was Virginia’s secretary of Health and Human Resources under former Governor Tim Kaine.

“Tavenner’s nursing expertise, along with her public and private sector experience, will enable her to continue providing the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) with the leadership needed to guide our health care system during this time of great change,” says ANA President Karen A. Daley, PhD, RN, FAAN. “CMS is an agency that touches the lives of all Americans, through the Medicare, Medicaid, and children’s health insurance programs and other vital functions. With this confirmation vote, CMS is getting a superb leader who understands the need to expand patient access to high quality health care.”

Tavenner joined CMS in February 2010 and became acting administrator in December 2011. Tavenner’s confirmation marks the first time CMS has had a permanent administrator since Mark McClellan resigned in 2006.