The COO of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, who supervised the disastrous rollout of Obamacare, is retiring. Michelle Snyder is the second official to depart the sinking ship CMS following CIO Tony Trenkle's resignation in November. While in charge of day-to-day activities, the allocation of resources, and “standing up new programs and activities required by the Affordable Care Act," the NY Times reminds [5] readers that Kathleen Sebelius said "Michelle Snyder is not responsible for those debacles." We can only wonder at the retirement package this 41-year veteran will receive...
Via NY Times, [5]
The No. 2 official at the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, who supervised the troubled rollout of President Obama’s health care law, is retiring, administration officials said Monday.
The official, Michelle Snyder, is the agency’s chief operating officer, in charge of day-to-day activities and the allocation of resources, including budget and personnel.
Technology experts who built the website for the federal insurance exchange, HealthCare.gov, reported to her.
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Marilyn B. Tavenner, the administrator of the Medicare agency, said Ms. Snyder was retiring this week “after 41 years of outstanding public service.”
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A former agency official who had predicted Ms. Snyder’s departure said Monday: “She had to go. She was responsible for the implementation of Obamacare. She controlled all the resources to get it done. She was in charge of information technology. She controlled personnel and budget.”
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At a congressional hearing on Oct. 30, Kathleen Sebelius, the secretary of health and human services, was asked who was responsible for developing the federal website, and she named Ms. Snyder.
But Ms. Sebelius quickly added: “Michelle Snyder is not responsible for those debacles. Hold me accountable for the debacle. I’m responsible.”
The question is - why retire now? If things are looking so rosy going forward and the worst is behind us for the Obamacare rollout?