CMS administrator’s farewell: 'You are well positioned for whatever comes next'

At his last all-staff meeting at CMS, the agency’s acting administrator, Andy Slavitt, recounted the successes and challenges of his tenure while encouraging employees to welcome his replacement from the incoming Trump administration.

Slavitt said his aim at CMS was “to try to have the impact of 20 years in the two I had.” He praised staff members making strides in “getting closer to our customers” and collaborating across different parts of the agency.

“You showed me we could do all of these things and I believe that one of the keys to our success has been and will be our culture,” Slavitt said. “The country needs a visible approachable government they can feel confident in, and the health care system needs an approachable and open CMS to partner with them.”

Among the highlights Slavitt mentioned in his farewell were the implementation of ICD-10 codes, developing the rules for the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act (MACRA), increasing data transparency and experimenting with new value-based care initiatives.

His speech then turned to the future, saying he’s “confident you are well positioned for whatever comes next.” In terms of leadership, that means the arrival of Seema Verma, President-elect Donald Trump’s pick to run CMS.

“Welcome her the same way you welcomed me: Listen to the new team’s priorities and teach them yours,” Slavitt said. “All great organizations have one common trait: They are adaptable. They can take weaknesses and make them strengths. They know how to change with the times. They can absorb new people. Build new units. Find new ways of doing things.”

Slavitt didn’t mention Trump by name, but he did close by trying to reassure employees that anti-discrimination policies at the agency aren’t changing with the new administration.

“At CMS and in our government, no discrimination will ever be tolerated. There can be no intimidation. There will remain equal opportunity for all our people—LGBT, people of color, women, individuals with disabilities. No one can take that away. For those of you that ever have concerns, just speak up. CMS has and will always support you,” Slavitt said.

Slavitt hasn’t publicly detailed his own post-CMS plans. When asked on Twitter, about his next job, he said he’s been “too busy on the transition to worry about that.”