Thompson appoints interim Medicare chief

On Wednesday Dennis Smith was named interim head of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, replacing Thomas Scully, who resigned effective Tuesday. Smith was director of the Center for Medicaid and State Operations at CMS.

Health and Human Services Department Secretary Tommy Thompson has not indicated who will be named to permanently replace Scully or when the appointment will be made.

"HHS' largest operating division will be in good hands with Dennis Smith as interim chief of the agency until a new administrator is nominated and sworn in," Thompson said.

Scully has yet to announce which one of the several private sector jobs he has been considering he would accept.

Thompson also said today that CMS Deputy Administrator and Chief Operating Officer Leslie Norwalk will remain in her position, and will lead CMS' implementation of the new Medicare legislation.