December 03,2003

Comment on CMS Administrator's Reported Ethics Waiver

M E M O R A N D U M

To: Reporters and Editors
Re: Tom Scully’s reported ethics waiver
Da: Wednesday, Dec. 3, 2003

Today The New York Times reported that Tom Scully, administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, sought and received an ethics waiver from the Department ofHealth and Human Services to allow him to be able to negotiate with potential employers for a healthcare-related job while continuing to work on the Medicare prescription drug bill. Sen. ChuckGrassley, chairman of the Committee on Finance, today made the following comment on this issue.

“Today I made an inquiry to the Department of Health and Human Services about this issue.Over the years, I’ve worked to exercise apolitical, even-handed oversight of the various branches ofgovernment. I’m interested in ensuring that all government officials, especially high-level officials,adhere to the highest ethical standards.”