As Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump prepare their transition teams as part of their hoped-for march to the White House, one position is sure to catch long-term care officials’ notice: The future leader of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.
Andy Slavitt, who became the acting administrator in February 2015 following the departure of Marilyn Tavenner, is believed to be unlikely to continue, officials told Bloomberg BNA this week.
Should Trump win, major shakeups within multiple government agencies would be expected. But even if Clinton planned to continue with President Barack Obama’s healthcare agenda, experts consider it probable she’ll want to change key leaders within CMS.
Should Clinton win and Democrats take back the Senate, and if Slavitt wanted to continue, he could continue for at least a while, if only to better smooth transitions, BNA reported.
The position is often seen as a political hot potato. Tavenner’s confirmation as regular, full-scale administrator in 2013 was the first since 2006.
Clinton’s campaign announced this week that former interior secretary Ken Salazar would lead her transition team in Washington, while New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie has been tapped to lead Trump’s.
