*This is an archive page. The links are no longer being updated. 1992.11.10 : Appointment -- Carol Walton Contact: Bob Hardy (202) 690-6145 November 10, 1992 The reassignment of Carol Walton to the position of director of the Bureau of Program Operations in the federal Health Care Financing Administration was announced today by William Toby Jr., acting administrator. In her new position, Walton is responsible for overseeing the 82 private contractors in the Medicare program, which handle about 670 million Medicare claims annually for more than 34 million beneficiaries. Walton replaces Barbara Gagel, who recently was named director of HCFA's Health Standards and Quality Bureau. Prior to her new position, Walton was the Bureau of Program Operations' deputy director. Toby said, "We are fortunate to have someone experienced in directing claims processing for Medicare beneficiaries. According to current estimates, the number of claims will increase by 10 percent in fiscal year 1993, and Medicare will process one billion claims annually by fiscal year 1997. Ms. Walton brings to this function a great amount of knowledge of the Medicare program and a deep commitment to quality service." Walton began her federal career in 1972 as a statistician with the U.S. Postal Service. Her HHS employment began in 1974 as a computer programmer with the Social Security Administration and she moved to HCFA upon its formation in 1977. She has held senior executive positions since 1983, when she was appointed director of the Office of Program Operations Procedures in the Bureau of Program Operations. Walton received an M.A. degree in mathematics in 1971 from the University of Maryland, a B.A. degree in 1968 from the State University of New York at Buffalo and an associate of arts degree in 1964 from Stephens College in Columbia, Mo. Walton was born in Los Angeles. She grew up and attended high school in Sterling, Kan., and currently lives in Timonium, Md. # # # EDITOR'S NOTE: HCFA, an agency of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, directs the Medicare and Medicaid programs, which help pay the medical bills of 62 million Americans. HCFA's estimated fiscal year 1993 expenditures are $230 billion, the 12th largest government budget of any kind in the world.