Berwick's exit interview with NY Times: 'I came with an agenda' for improvement

The New York Times: Health Official Takes Parting Shot at 'Waste'
The official in charge of Medicare and Medicaid for the last 17 months says that 20 percent to 30 percent of health spending is "waste" that yields no benefit to patients, and that some of the needless spending is a result of onerous, archaic regulations enforced by his agency. The official, Dr. Donald M. Berwick, listed five reasons for what he described as the "extremely high level of waste." They are overtreatment of patients, the failure to coordinate care, the administrative complexity of the health care system, burdensome rules and fraud (Pear, 12/3).

Related, from KHN: Weighing Berwick's Top Five Accomplishments At CMS (Meyer, 12/2)

Meanwhile, Politico unearthed audio of Dr. Berwick's replacement, Marilyn Tavenner.

PoliticoPro: Tavenner: Berwick's Vision Will Continue
No one doubts the managerial skills Marilyn Tavenner brings to her new job as CMS administrator, but many wonder how she will fill Don Berwick's shoes as a public ambassador for the administration's policies. ... months before she was nominated by President Barack Obama to lead CMS, she delivered a rare speech about the Affordable Care Act in March before the Nashville Healthcare Council. ... POLITICO tracked down audio of this rare appearance, which shows that she enthusiastically defends the ACA (Feder, 12/2).