Larsen Leaving CCIIO, Agency Responsible For Implementing Major Parts Of Health Reform Law

Bloomberg: U.S. Health Insurance Regulator to Leave Oversight Job 
Steve Larsen, the government administrator directing enactment of U.S. insurance regulations created by the 2010 health-care overhaul, is leaving to return to the private sector, according to e-mails to staff. Larsen plans to leave his position as head of the Center for Consumer Information and Insurance Oversight in July, according to e-mails obtained by Bloomberg. ... Larsen didn’t immediately respond to an e-mail requesting comment on his departure. (Wayne, 6/15).

Politico: Larsen Stepping Down As CCIIO Director
Larsen will become executive vice president at OPTUM, a health services business within UnitedHealth Group, sources tell POLITICO. The shake-up comes at a sensitive time for the office. If the Supreme Court upholds the health reform law, CCIIO will have a lot of work to do helping states meet an end-of-the-year deadline for preparing to implement health insurance exchanges. But if the law is struck down — or even if only parts of it are overturned — the head of the agency will have to pick up the pieces (Feder, 6/15).

The Hill: Top HHS Official Resigns
CCIIO is implementing the bulk of the new healthcare law, including its consumer protections and new rules that govern insurance companies' spending. ... [Acting Medicare and Medicaid Administrator Marilyn] Tavenner said in her e-mail that Mike Hash, now the director of HHS' Office of Health Reform, will step in as CCIIO's interim director while the department looks for a permanent replacement (Baker, 6/15).

CQ HealthBeat: Larsen Leaving CCIIO to Join United
Larsen’s exit is an undeniable blow to the Obama administration, although Hash has an almost flawless resume to step in and fill the breach. Larsen “has done an amazing job,” says a former Obama administration official. He brought “real structure and direction” to CCIIO while also cranking out important regulations. Those included consumer protection, rate review, medical loss ratio and exchange regulations (Reichard, 6/15).