The Department of Health and Human Services has undergone a major reorganization to enhance its technology, cybersecurity, data management, artificial intelligence, and policy functions. The move aims to streamline and bolster the department’s technological capabilities. Micky Tripathi, the assistant secretary for technology policy, explained the need for the reorganization.
“Technology moves fast, and sometimes agencies have to reorganize just to keep up,” Tripathi said. Under the new structure, the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology will be renamed the Assistant Secretary for Technology Policy and Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology. This office will oversee technology, data, and AI policy and strategy.
The reorganization also includes the creation of two new roles: chief AI officer and chief data officer. The chief AI officer will be responsible for department-wide AI policy and strategy, while the chief data officer will lead data governance and policy development. The cybersecurity functions previously managed by the Assistant Secretary for Administration will be taken over by the Administrator for Strategic Preparedness and Response.
HHS has already laid the groundwork for future technology endeavors.
Restructuring for tech policy enhancement
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 reorganization reflects HHS’s commitment to staying ahead in the evolving landscape of technology and cybersecurity, ensuring a robust infrastructure that supports its vast array of public health responsibilities.
