Elizabeth Richter to Serve as Acting CMS Administrator – HHS Nominees Subject to Confirmation

Elizabeth Richter, a long-time career civil servant who most recently served as the deputy director for tCMS, will take over as the acting CMS administrator. Ms. Richter will take over for Seema Verma, who submitted her resignation effective January 20, 2021, following the departure of the Trump Administration. 

President Joe Biden has not submitted a nomination for a permanent replacement as yet. However, he has previously nominated California attorney general and long-term member of Congress Xavier Beccera to lead the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). More recently, President Biden nominated Dr. Rachel Levine to serve as the assistant health secretary for HHS. Dr. Levine most recently served as the secretary of health in Pennsylvania, where she leads the state's fight against COVID-19. She is also professor at the Penn State College of Medicine. Dr. Levine began her medical career as a pediatrician at Mount Sinai Medical Center in New York.