CMS CIO Patrick Newbold to Depart Agency Amid Cybersecurity Modernization Efforts

• •Patrick Newbold will leave CMS on November 27, 2026, after two years as CIO.
• •Mark Plaugher will act as CIO until a permanent replacement is found.
• •Newbold's tenure included significant modernization efforts and substantial cost savings.

Patrick Newbold, the Chief Information Officer at the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), will leave the agency on November 27, 2026. His departure follows a two-year tenure marked by significant modernization initiatives, including the deployment of a multi-cloud environment and the integration of AI tools. Mark Plaugher will serve as acting CIO until a permanent successor is appointed. Newbold emphasized the importance of maintaining momentum in strengthening cybersecurity and modernizing critical systems in his farewell message. He did not disclose his future plans. During his time, Newbold oversaw $850 million in IT savings and advanced data analytics that recovered $101 million in Medicare funds. His leadership included the launch of the Office of Health Technology and Products to enhance citizen services. The transition comes shortly after other key appointments in CMS's IT leadership, including Brian Peltier as deputy director and Shauntia Bell as director of the Enterprise Systems Solutions Group.