Dive Brief:
- CMS Administrator Marilyn Tavenner announced Tuesday that Principal Deputy Administrator Jonathan Blum will leave his post, effective May 16.
- Tavenner indicated in an email to staff that Blum will leave to "to pursue new opportunities." No new job plans have been announced.
- The Obama administration appointed Blum as the director for the Center for Medicare in 2009. He was made a deputy administrator last year.
Dive Insight:
Mr. Blum oversaw the unprecedented release of Medicare billing data earlier this month, a move that may prove to be the most important development of his tenure. Mr. Blum was also instrumental in the development of accountable care organizations. He was the Obama administration's first political appointee to CMS in 2009.