Updated
Shane Stevens, who has held the position of associate director of health care and insurance at the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) since last summer, is resigning from his role.
Sources reveal that Shane Stevens is stepping down from his position as OPM’s chief health and insurance official. He communicated his resignation via email on Thursday, stating it would take effect immediately.
He mentioned in his email, “After much thought, I have decided to move on from my role as associate director of health care and insurance for OPM.” Stevens expressed pride in the advancements made during his tenure in operational efficiency, innovation, taxpayer resource management, and long-term health care sustainability. He seemed optimistic about the team’s future, saying, “I am confident that the team will lead the way as I explore new opportunities in health policy.”
An OPM spokesperson, McLoughlin Pinover, confirmed his departure and expressed gratitude for Stevens’ service, noting that he plans to spend time with family and further his interests in health policy.
The OPM has yet to announce a successor to Stevens.
The Office of Health Insurance is responsible for significant insurance programs impacting federal employees and their families, notably the Federal Employee Health Benefits (FEHB) program, which serves over 8 million individuals. This program is the largest employer-sponsored health benefits program in the U.S.
Under Stevens’ supervision, OPM issued a call letter earlier this year outlining new objectives and standards for federal insurers within the FEHB framework. His communication promoted a “wellcare” model and incorporated elements from the previous administration’s “Make America Healthy Again” initiative, particularly regarding personal vaccination choices.
The letter also addressed rising insurance premiums for federal employees, indicating that for the 2027 plan, OPM would implement stricter criteria for accessing coverage of certain prescribed medications for weight loss. In March, Stevens suggested these adjustments were aimed at mitigating increasing costs.
Recently, the Office of Health Insurance has faced scrutiny after OPM finalized plans to gather claims-level information on federally insured individuals, raising concerns from stakeholders about the privacy of enrollees’ health information, possible security breaches, and adherence to Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) regulations.
