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<\/a><\/p>\n Drew Friedman<\/a>@dfriedmanWFED<\/a><\/p>\n \n May 21, 2026 3:31 pm <\/p>\n 2 min read<\/p>\n Shane Stevens, the top official for the Office of Personnel Management\u2019s healthcare and insurance arm, is stepping down from his role, Federal News Network has learned.<\/p>\n Stevens, a political appointee, has been serving as associate director of healthcare and insurance at OPM since last summer. He announced in an email Thursday afternoon that he is voluntarily resigning, effective immediately.<\/p>\n \u201cAfter thoughtful consideration, I have decided to transition from my current role as Associate Director of Healthcare and Insurance at the U.S. Office of Personnel Management,\u201d Stevens said in an email sent to OPM staff, obtained by Federal News Network.<\/p>\n \u201cI am proud of the progress made to strengthen operational effectiveness, promote innovation, improve stewardship of taxpayer resources and advance long-term healthcare sustainability across the Healthcare and Insurance portfolio,\u201d Stevens continued. \u201cI know the team can carry the torch forward as I seek out opportunities to further my policy initiatives.\u201d<\/p>\n ]]><\/p>\n OPM spokesperson McLaurine Pinover confirmed Stevens\u2019 resignation to Federal News Network.<\/p>\n \u201cShane has served his country well and we at OPM are grateful for what he accomplished during his tenure,\u201d Pinover said. \u201cHe\u00a0has decided to take time to spend with family and will continue to pursue his passion for healthcare policy.\u201d<\/p>\n It\u2019s not yet clear who will replace Stevens in the OPM position.<\/p>\n OPM\u2019s healthcare and insurance office oversees several major insurance programs for federal employees and their families. That includes the Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB) program \u2014 the largest employer-sponsored health benefits program, covering more than 8 million federal enrollees and dependents.<\/p>\n Under Stevens\u2019 tenure, OPM issued a call letter earlier this year outlining new goals and requirements for federal insurance carriers in the FEHB program. In the letter, Stevens promoted a \u201cwell care\u201d model<\/a> for the federal insurance marketplace. The letter also alluded to many goals of the Trump administration\u2019s \u201cMake America Healthy Again\u201d agenda, such as an emphasis on personal choice in getting vaccines.<\/p>\n The call letter also detailed upcoming efforts to address years of significant insurance premium increases for federal employees. For plan year 2027, OPM is telling carriers to begin setting stricter requirements for members to meet before they can qualify for coverage of GLP-1 medications prescribed for weight loss. The revised requirements are an attempt to mitigate rising insurance costs, Stevens said in March.<\/p>\n The healthcare and insurance office has also come under pressure recently, after OPM put together plans to collect claims-level data on federal insurance enrollees. Those plans have raised concerns from stakeholders<\/a> about an invasion of enrollees\u2019 health privacy, the possibility of security breaches and the risk of insurance carriers violating Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) regulations.<\/p>\n ]]><\/p>\n If you would like to contact this reporter about recent changes in the federal government, please email drew.friedman@federalnewsnetwork.com<\/a> or reach out on Signal at drewfriedman.11<\/strong><\/p>\n Copyright
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