HHS announced reorganization plans that will combines personnel cuts, centralization of functions, and consolidation of their divisions, This includes the current 82,000 full-time employees will be reduced to 62,000, 28 divisions will be consolidated to 15, 10 regional offices will become 5, and Human Resources, Information Technology, Procurement, External Affairs, and Policy will be centralized.
Creation of the Administration for a Healthy America (AHA)
Combining agencies into a new, unified entity:
- Â Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health (OASH),
- Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA),
- Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA),
- Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR), and
- National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
This centralization will improve coordination of health resources for low-income Americans and will focus on areas including, Primary Care, Maternal and Child Health, Mental Health, Environmental Health, HIV/AIDS, and Workforce development. Transferring SAMHSA to AHA will increase operational efficiency and assure programs are carried out because it will break down artificial divisions between similar programs.
Strengthening the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
The Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response (ASPR), responsible for national disaster and public health emergency response, will transfer to the CDC, reinforcing its core mission to protect Americans from health threats.
New Assistant Secretary for Enforcement
HHS will create a new Assistant Secretary for Enforcement to oversee the Departmental Appeals Board (DAB), Office of Medicare Hearings and Appeals (OMHA), and Office for Civil Rights (OCR) to combat waste, fraud, and abuse in federal health programs.
Research and Evaluation for Health Policy
HHS will merge the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation (ASPE) with the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) to create the Office of Strategy to enhance research that informs the Secretary’s policies and improves the effectiveness of federal health programs.
Reorganization of the Administration for Community Living (ACL)
Critical programs that support older adults and people with disabilities will be integrated into other HHS agencies, including the Administration for Children and Families (ACF), ASPE, and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). This reorganization will not impact Medicare and Medicaid services.
Organizational Charts and Leadership
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