Date: August 8, 2001
CENTERS FOR MEDICARE & MEDICAID SERVICES
OFFICE OF THE ADMINISTRATOR
PUBLIC AFFAIRS OFFICE
(FAC)
- Serves as the focal point for the Agency to the news media.
- Serves as senior counsel to the Administrator in all activities related to the media.
Provides consultation, advice, and training to the Agency's senior staff with respect to
relations with the news media.
- Develops and executes strategies to further the Agency's relationship and dealings with
the media. Maintains a broad based knowledge of the Agency's structure, responsibilities,
mission, goals, programs, and initiatives in order to provide or arrange for rapid and
accurate response to news media needs.
- Prepares and edits appropriate materials about the Agency, its policies, actions and
findings, and provides them to the public through the print and broadcast media. Develops
and directs media relations' strategies for the Agency.
- Responds to inquiries from a broad variety of news media, including major newspapers,
national television and radio networks, national news magazines, local newspapers and
radio and television stations, publications directed toward the Agency's beneficiary
populations, and newsletters serving the health care industry.
- Manages press inquiries, coordinates sensitive press issues, and develops policies and
procedures for how press and media inquiries are handled.
- Arranges formal interviews for journalists with the Agency's Administrator or other
appropriate senior Agency staff; identifies for interviewees the issues to be addressed,
and prepares or obtains background materials as needed.
- For significant Agency initiatives, issues media advisories and arranges press
conferences as appropriate; coordinates material and personnel as necessary.
- Serves as liaison with the Department of Health and Human Services and White House press offices.
Last Modified on Thursday, September 16, 2004
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services