December 5, 2003
CMS Administrator Tom Scully announced on December 3 that he will resign effective December 15, following three years at the helm of the nation’s second and third-largest domestic programs, Medicare and Medicaid.
“It has been a great run, and has been great fun working with, and learning from, Secretary Thompson, who has been a great friend and mentor,” said Scully. “Watching the President and the Secretary drive the Medicare bill across the finish line in the last few weeks was a very rewarding culmination to a very exciting and fulfilling three years. I have loved every minute of this job and am grateful to the President for the opportunity to serve.”
Scully became the ninth administrator of the agency formerly known as the Health Care Financing Administration on March 22, 2001. He led an intensive effort to improve the responsiveness of the agency, with a new name, adopted from suggestions made by agency employees. He also significantly expanded efforts to inject quality measurement into the agency’s programs.
“Tom Scully is leaving a different agency from the one he took over in 2001, an agency that has been reenergized by his leadership,” said HHS Secretary Tommy G. Thompson. “He also made crucial contributions in the effort to bring about the President’s vision of a modernized Medicare, and he helped ensure that future beneficiaries will be served by a better and stronger program.”
Other highlights of his tenure include:
“Much of what Secretary Thompson and I have done is very consistent with the themes of Medicare reform. If you measure performance and give consumers information, it drives positive change. If you give seniors better coverage options, like PPOs, and the information to understand them, they will make the right call. We have taken the first steps to a more consumer-responsive health system,” said Scully
Scully did not immediately identify future plans. An acting administrator will be named prior to Dec. 15.