May 17–23, 2020, is the 46th annual celebration of National EMS Week, recognizing Emergency Medical Services personnel, such as emergency medical technicians and paramedics. HHS Secretary Alex Azar issued the following statement: “In life-threatening emergencies, we all depend on the bravery, skill, and professionalism that define America’s Emergency Medical Services. Since the beginning of the […]
May 10 through 16, 2020, marks National Hospital Week. HHS Secretary Alex Azar issued the following statement recognizing the contributions of hospitals and their frontline workers: “America’s hospitals, from major urban research centers to rural institutions, have answered their country’s call throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. Everyone who staffs America’s hospitals—from doctors and nurses to everyone […]
On Friday, the Trump Administration announced the appointment of Moncef Slaoui as chief advisor and General Gustave F. Perna as chief operating officer of Operation Warp Speed (OWS), the administration’s national program to accelerate the development, manufacturing, and distribution of COVID-19 vaccines, therapeutics, and diagnostics (medical countermeasures). Dr. Slaoui is a venture capitalist and, formerly, […]
Today, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), through the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), announced a new funding opportunity announcement (FOA) that will award $5 million in fiscal year 2020 to support novel, high-impact studies that evaluate the responsiveness of health care delivery systems, health care professionals, and the overall […]
Today, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), through the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) awarded $15 million to 159 organizations across five health workforce programs to increase telehealth capabilities in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. These awards demonstrate the Trump Administration’s continued efforts and commitment to building a national telehealth infrastructure. […]
Today, the Office for Civil Rights (OCR) at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced that it has entered into a voluntary resolution agreement (VRA) with the West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources, protecting the rights of persons with disabilities, including persons in recovery from Opioid Use Disorder (OUD) to […]
Today, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response (ASPR) announced the allocation plan for the drug remdesivir. The allocation is from a donation by Gilead Sciences, Inc. to the United States which was finalized on May 3, 2020. The donated doses of the treatment, which […]
On Thursday, the Senate confirmed Admiral Brett Giroir, M.D., to serve as the United States representative on the World Health Organization (WHO) Executive Board, in addition to his duties as Assistant Secretary for Health. HHS Secretary Alex Azar issued the following statement: “Admiral Giroir is a superbly qualified science and public health leader, perfectly suited […]
Today, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), through the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), awarded nearly $583 million to 1,385 HRSA-funded health centers in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and eight U.S. territories to expand COVID-19 testing. Nearly 88 percent of HRSA-funded health centers report testing patients, with more […]
This week, the Department of Health and Human Services deployed 50 portable kidney dialysis machines and supplies to New York City and Long Island Intensive Care Units (ICUs) to provide surge capacity for facilities caring for patients with COVID-19, which has caused acute kidney injury and therefore required dialysis in a share of ICU cases. […]