CMS appoints new data chief

Reflecting the growing reliance on healthcare data, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has announced the creation of the Office of Enterprise Data and Analytics (OEDA) and appointed Niall Brennan as the first chief data officer.

Brennan will be charged with improving the agency's collection, analysis and dissemination of data so that CMS can better use the data it collects and generates through such programs as Medicare, Medicaid and the Children's Health Insurance Program.

The formation of this new office and the appointment of a CDO coincides with CMS' recent efforts to collect data in real time and to use predictive analytics to track key metrics.

“It’s clear how much data transparency will help the country improve outcomes, control costs and aid consumer decision making,” said CMS Principal Deputy Administrator Andy Slavitt in a press release. “This appointment signals to the industry that there is no turning back from the healthcare data agenda. Niall Brennan will help make sure CMS leads the way.”

 


Topics: Technology & IT