Insights from the Top: An Oral History of Medicare and Medicaid

PHOTO (L-R) Edward Berkowitz (Professor of History, George Washington University), William Arnone (Chair, Board of Directors, National Academy of Social Insurance), Acting Administrator Andy Slavitt (Centers for Medicare and Medicaid), and Barbara Manard (Senior Fellow, National Academy of Social Insurance). 

Insights from the Top: An Oral History of Medicare and Medicaid was launched as part of the Academy’s Medicare and Medicaid at 50 and Beyond celebration in 2015. The project was designed to uncover the rich history of the programs through the eyes of its leaders. It adds 23 new interviews to the existing CMS collection (available via the history section of the CMS website). These new interviews, as well as the earlier ones, were conducted by Edward Berkowitz, Professor of History at the George Washington University.

Insights from the Top brings the existing historical record fully up-to-date from the 30^th anniversary of Medicare and Medicaid and includes:

• First-time interviews with the four former Administrators who have served since 2001;
• First-time interviews with 14 former Acting or Acting Deputy Administrators; and
• Re-interviews of five former Administrators who served prior to 2001.

There are two ways to read these oral histories:

• By date of public service.
• Alphabetically by last name.

When reading the oral histories, keep in mind that each is the memory of a single individual. Read in context with other sources of information, they can add color and context, unavailable elsewhere, to important events. However, the full picture can only be seen when the perspectives of many individuals are combined into a meaningful whole.

Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in the interviews are those of the interviewee and do not reflect the views of the National Academy of Social Insurance, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, or the Department of Health and Human Services. Interviews are made public with the express consent of the interviewees.

Acknowledgements: The Academy would like to thank Edward Berkowitz (Professor of History, George Washington University), Barbara Manard (Visiting Scholar, National Academy of Social Insurance), and Lee Goldberg (formerly Vice President for Health Policy at the Academy, now Project Director for End of Life Care at the Pew Charitable Trust) for their work on the oral history project. Professor Berkowitz contributed a substantial amount of time on a pro bono basis and Barbara Manard was the driving force in organizing the project. Lee Goldberg developed and managed the project. The Academy is able to make this gift to CMS and the American public thanks to the dedication and expertise of these Academy members.

* Elected to the National Academy of Social Insurance
n/a = not interviewed

PHOTO: Former CMS/HCFA Administrators: (standing, L-R) Bruce Vladeck, Mark McClellan, MD, Gail Wilensky, Leonard Schaeffer, Nancy-Ann Min DeParle, Don Berwick, MD; (seated, L-R)  Bill Roper, MD, Marilyn Tavenner, Tom Scully. (Photo made possible by Leonard Schaeffer).

The Academy’s Medicare and Medicaid at 50 and Beyond Celebration Program was made possible thanks to support from

 
​and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation President’s Grant Fund of the Princeton Area Community Foundation.