Within recent years, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has continuously pushed for technology modernization. New technologies present a wide range of benefits for health care agencies, from enhancing the customer experience to protecting patient data from cyber threats.
The Potomac Officers Club’s 2024 Healthcare Summit on Dec. 11 will offer you an inside look at federal health care priorities and challenges. At the event, you will have the opportunity to hear from experts speakers representing federal health agencies as well as private sector organizations. To learn more and register to attend the summit, visit the event page on the Potomac Officers Club website.
In July, the department took the next step in its transformation journey with the launch of a major reorganization effort. Keep reading for a look into HHS’ next moves.
Strategic Leadership Reorganization
Through this reorganization initiative, HHS aims to integrate policy and operations functions, which were previously spread across the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology, or ONC; the Assistant Secretary for Administration, shortened to ASA; and the Administrator for Strategic Preparedness and Response, or ASPR.
Under the new structure, ONC will be renamed as the Assistant Secretary for Technology Policy and Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology, referred to as ASTP/ONC. This new office will assume supervision of technology, data and artificial intelligence policy and strategy. The 405(d) Program — a public-private healthcare cybersecurity effort formerly managed by ASA — will be taken over by ASPR.
ASTP/ONC will also form the Office of the Chief Technology Officer and reestablish the chief technology officer position.
New Executive Roles
The reorganization initiative also includes the introduction of two new roles within HHS: chief AI officer and chief data officer.
The chief AI officer will be responsible for department-wide AI policy and strategy, the creation of internal standards for AI use and related policy and AI workforce development. The chief data officer will lead data governance and policy development, manage the HHS data strategy, drive collaboration and exchange and cultivate data talent.
The Office of the Chief AI Officer, Office of the Chief Data Officer and a new Office of Digital Services will be managed by the CTO.
The Future of HHS
HHS has already laid the groundwork for future technology endeavors. In December, the department published a concept paper detailing its cybersecurity strategy for the health care sector. It includes four major actions health agencies should follow:
- Publish voluntary health care and public health sector cybersecurity performance goals
- Provide resources to incentivize and implement cybersecurity practices
- Implement an HHS-wide strategy to support greater enforcement and accountability
- Expand and mature the one-stop shop within HHS for health care sector cybersecurity
Earlier this year, HHS released a draft of its 2024-2030 Federal Health IT Strategy, which has four main objectives:
- Promote health and wellness
- Enhance the delivery and experience of care
- Accelerate research and innovation
- Connect the health system with health data
The first of these goals looks at health care IT from the perspective of outcomes for individuals and communities receiving care, and the second focuses on the care experience for both patients and providers. The third objective aims to create innovation opportunities, and the fourth is centered around relevant policies and technologies for achieving IT goals.
For access to exclusive insights on HHS’ modernization journey, register to attend the 2024 Healthcare Summit!
