Tamara Syrek Jensen

Ms. Jensen is the Director of the Coverage and Analysis Group in the Centers for Clinical Standards and Quality at CMS. Before becoming the Director, she was the Deputy Director. CAG develops, interprets, communicates, and updates evidence based national coverage policies. These policies help provide timely access to services and technologies that improve health outcomes for Medicare beneficiaries. She is one of the principal authors in creating and implementing coverage with evidence development (CED), an initiative that allows for Medicare coverage while developing evidence through clinical trials and registries. Under the CED paradigm, CMS is collaborating with NIH and AHRQ on research topics such as molecular diagnostics, carotid stenting, and Alzheimer’s disease.

Ms. Jensen leads the CMS collaboration with FDA, including the 2010 memorandum of understanding with the FDA and the ongoing CMS-FDA parallel review pilot program. As part of the CAG leadership team, she has completed several regulations including updating and creating the screening and preventive benefits within the prescribed statutory or regulatory timeframes.

Conflict of Interest Disclosures:  MDIC Board of Directors