New acting director of Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation named

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services disclosed this week that Richard Gilfillan, a former healthcare executive, has been tapped to be acting director of the new Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation (CMI).

CMI, a product of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, will be expected to test innovative payment and service delivery models to reduce costs and improve quality. The law requires that the secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services create the CMI within CMS by Jan. 1, 2011.

Gilfillan is the former president and CEO of Geisinger Health Plan in Danville, PA. He also was executive vice president of insurance operations for Geisinger Health System, a large integrated heath system. Gilfillan joined CMS in August directing the agency's performance-based payment policy staff and implementing programs. He will work with CMS Administrator Donald Berwick in his new role.