Health Care Cost Institute names former CMS chief as executive director

The Health Care Cost Institute, a not-for-profit organization focused on improving price transparency, has appointed the CMS’ former chief data officer Niall Brennan as president and executive director.

Brennan was the CMS’ first chief data officer. He was appointed to the role during the Obama administration in November 2014 and is credited for significantly improving data transparency at the agency.

Brennan succeeds David Newman, who is stepping down. Newman founded the organization in 2011 with a mission to provide a public database on costs and quality in the healthcare industry.

“HCCI has incredible data resources that can be used to develop better insights into what is driving changes in healthcare spending,” Brennan said in a statement. “I am excited to lead HCCI, and work with policymakers, researchers, consumers and others to identify strategies and interventions to better understand costs, improve quality and promote transparency.”

At the CMS, Brennan led advancements in data collection and efforts to help the agency use its vast data resources to drive better quality and patient-centered care at a lower cost.

Before he was named chief data officer, Brennan was the head of the CMS’ Office of Enterprise Management.

Prior to joining the agency, Brennan worked at the Brookings Institution, the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission, the Congressional Budget Office and the Urban Institute.