Ex-Medicare Chief to Head Disease Centers
William Roper, a White House adviser and former director of the Medicare and Medicaid programs, was named Wednesday to head the Centers for Disease Control.
Roper, 41, on March 1 will take over a federal agency with 5,000 employees and an annual budget of $1.1 billion, including $450 million for AIDS-related work. The CDC has headquarters in Atlanta.
The American Medical Assn. hailed the selection of Roper for the post, but some AIDS activists said they knew little about his views on AIDS issues.
“He’s sort of an AIDS unknown,” said Robert Bray of the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force.
In addition to tracking AIDS, the CDC is responsible for investigating and containing other infectious diseases and for finding ways to reduce mortality and occupational injuries.
Louis W. Sullivan, secretary of health and human services, announced the selection of Roper and noted the CDC’s “leading role” in fighting acquired immune deficiency syndrome.
Roper will replace Dr. James O. Mason, who left last year to become assistant secretary for health.
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