HHS Restructures to Consolidate Technology, Cybersecurity, Data, AI, and HealthIT
The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has announced a major restructuring that will allow the department to streamline its operations and more effectively prioritize the use of digital and emerging capabilities such as artificial intelligence.
Work related to technology, cybersecurity, and data has historically been distributed across three HHS departments: The Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC), the Assistant Secretary for Administration (ASA), and the Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response (ASPR). Opportunities in these areas have grown considerably in recent years, and now is the time to streamline operations and have all tech-centric work handled by a single HHS organization.
The ONC will be renamed the Assistant Secretary for Technology Policy and Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ASTP/ONC), which will be tasked with oversight of technology, data, and artificial intelligence policy and strategy, taking over these oversight roles from the ASA. ASTP/ONC will also be tasked with managing healthcare information technology, a role previously given to ONC.
The ASA was previously responsible for the public-private effort between the health sector and the federal government on cybersecurity under the 405(d) program. That role will now be transferred to ASPR, which will continue managing other cybersecurity activities that are currently being conducted by the ASPR Office of Critical Infrastructure Protection. ASPR will also continue to work on advancing the HHS one-stop-shop approach to healthcare cybersecurity.
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ASTP/ONC will be led by National Coordinator, Micky Tripathi, who has been named Assistant Secretary for Technology Policy/National Coordinator for Health Information Technology. ASTP/ONC will establish an Office of the Chief Technology Officer to oversee department-level and cross-agency technology, data, and AI strategy and policy, and also the Office of the Chief AI Officer, Office of the Chief Data Officer, and a new Office of Digital Services. The HHS is looking to hire a chief technology officer (CTO) and a chief data officer (CDO). The CDO will be responsible for overseeing data governance and policy development at the HHS, driving data literacy and data talent initiatives, managing the HHS data strategy, supporting data collaboration and exchange, and managing HHS data as a strategic asset for the department.
Tripathi has been serving as acting chief artificial intelligence officer (CAIO) and will relinquish that role when the HHS is able to hire a permanent CAIO. The role of the CAIO will include setting department policy and strategy for AI, establishing internal governance, policies, and risk management approach for AI internal to the HHS, coordinating the AI approach in the health and human services sectors, supporting the safe and appropriate use of AI technologies and tools across the department, and coordinating AI-related talent and training initiatives.
“Cybersecurity, data, and artificial intelligence are some of the most pressing issues facing the health care space today. As a Department, HHS must be agile, accountable, and strategic to meet the needs of this moment,” said HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra. “For decades, HHS has worked across the organization to ensure appropriate and safe use of technology, data, and AI to advance the health and well-being of the American people. This reorganization builds on that success and prepares the Department for the challenges that lie ahead.”
