CMS: RESULTS

A Prescription for Success

They serve your parents and grandparents — and, maybe even you. They are the largest health care insurer of Americans and the largest purchaser of health care in the world. They are doctors and scientists, IT specialists and economists. And through their work, they assure access to health care in times of need. They are the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS).

The agency's mandate was recently expanded with the enactment of the Medicare Modernization Act (MMA) — the most extensive modification to the Medicare program since its inception in 1965. The MMA includes a drug discount card in 2004, new preventive benefits including a "Welcome to Medicare" physical for new Medicare beneficiaries in 2005 and a much anticipated prescription drug benefit plan by 2006, in addition to other improvements to CMS programs.

At CMS, a focus on effective selection and assessment processes was central to addressing managers' concerns. They wanted to ensure that the CMS of the future would have top talent to meet changing circumstances and their increasing mission requirements. With high volumes of applicants for many CMS positions and an automated staffing system that few understood how to use effectively, screening and assessing candidates for quality was often a challenge.

Download the full case study on the results of the CMS makeover.

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