Tom Scully, administrator of the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), today announced two new appointments in the key areas of nursing home quality and services to the elderly and disabled. Scully has named Thomas E. Hamilton as acting director of the agency's Survey and Certification Group and Glenn Stanton as acting director of the Disabled and Elderly Health Programs Group.
The Survey and Certification group is responsible for federal oversight of the quality of care in the nation's nursing homes, certain clinical laboratories, and other health care facilities. The Disabled and Elderly Health Programs Group has jurisdiction over Medicaid services for those populations.
As director of the CMS Disabled and Elderly Health Programs Group, Hamilton spearheaded the agency's work to fulfill the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the President's New Freedom Initiative aimed at assuring that people with a disability have greater opportunities to live and participate in their communities. For twenty-one years prior to joining CMS, Hamilton was a principal architect of the Wisconsin long-term care system. Just last week Hamilton was the recipient of the "Academy Award" from the National Academy for State Health Policy.
Stanton has 20 years of service within the public health care sector at the county, state and federal levels. He played a key role in HHS' Independence Plus Initiative to facilitate self-directed health care and served on the President's New Freedom Commission for Mental Health. Prior to joining CMS, Stanton served as the state director of Developmental Disability Services and as executive director of a three-county Community Mental Health Service Program in Michigan.
"Thomas' background in long-term care makes him highly qualified to oversee quality of care in nursing homes and carry out the national Nursing Home Quality Initiative," Scully said. "I also have every confidence that Glenn's expertise will allow him to continue the momentum of the New Freedom's efforts to ensure every opportunity for independent living is made available to those living with handicaps."
"We have been extremely fortunate to have had the expert leadership these men have brought to their jobs," said CMS Administrator Tom Scully. "Thomas and Glenn have brought a level of caring and professionalism to their respective posts and helped further this administration's goal of bringing the best possible health care to those who depend upon us for quality care and maximum opportunities for independence."