HHS
Palantir alum appointed to top tech role at HHS
Clark Minor is the new chief information officer at HHS, where he replaces a federal executive that departed last week.
How cyber vulnerabilities and workforce cuts threaten the crisis lifeline program
A bipartisan, bicameral measure is hoping to prevent cyber incidents from limiting access to the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline after a 2022 attack on a system operator disrupted calls to the hotline.
Deep cuts hit HHS tech offices
Current employees say that dramatic cuts to leadership and career staff within FDA and HHS have left critical projects at risk.
Uncertainty grips HHS as employees await their fate and leadership is left in the dark: ‘It’s madness’
Employees are still waiting for more information after the department announced widespread layoffs.
HHS pause on external comms delaying upcoming health summits
Two planned events have been indefinitely postponed as a result of the Trump administration’s freeze on HHS-related mass communications and public appearances.
HHS AI plan looks to the private sector for collaboration
Public engagement and collaborative partnerships with the private sector “throughout the innovation pipeline” can help ensure that AI tools are being equitably used and deployed, HHS said in its AI strategic plan.
HHS’ 2024 AI use case inventory shows move toward internal chatbots
The agency reported 271 AI use cases in 2024, which it said represented a 66% increase from its reported 2023 total.
Major cyber news drops under the buzzer for 2024
A ninth U.S. telecommunications provider fell onto Salt Typhoon’s victim list, and the UN’s controversial cybercrime treaty was adopted.
Lawmakers want to enhance HHS cyber engagement with health care orgs
The bipartisan proposal, introduced by Sen. Bill Cassidy, R-La., came out of the efforts of a working group focused on protecting medical institutions from digital attacks.
HHS has still not addressed key cyber recommendations, GAO says
The Government Accountability Office said its unaddressed cyber guidance can result “in potential adverse impact on healthcare providers and patient care.”
HHS to crack down on providers blocking access to electronic medical records
The Department of Health and Human Services has received more than a thousand claims of blocked or stymied access to electronic health record information in recent years.
New bill seeks to mandate healthcare cybersecurity standards
The proposed legislation, which has the backing of the Department of Health and Human Services, would require the health agency to set and enforce cybersecurity standards for healthcare providers, clearinghouses and other industry players.
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ICE struggles to track unaccompanied minors, oversight report says
The agency lacks automated systems to chart the path of underage migrants through the immigration system.
HHS reorg seeks to streamline tech, cyber policy
A new assistant secretary post will consolidate management of technology, data, AI and health IT.
Data can be a double-edged sword in generative AI, agency experts say
Though there are myriad federal use cases for generative AI applications, usability hinges on clean, organized input data.
HHS launches online tool to identify communities hit hardest by extreme heat
The heat and health index tool provides zip code level data to flag neighborhoods that are the most at risk of experiencing harmful health outcomes as a result of high temperatures.
HHS issues final rule to expand HIPAA coverage for reproductive data
The rule comes in response to health data security concerns arising out of the 2022 overturn of abortion protections established by Roe v. Wade.
HHS removed Login from its grantee payment system after funding theft
Hackers used data from a federal contracting hub to steal funding from seven grantee organizations in an HHS breach that occurred last year. Both HHS and GSA say that Login.gov was not compromised or connected to the theft.
New bill would create payment incentives for the health sector to meet cyber standards
The measure led by Sen. Mark Warner, D-Va. comes in the wake of a ransomware attack on UnitedHealth subsidiary Change Healthcare.
Ransomware payment debate resurfaces amid Change Healthcare incident
Expert views don’t entirely align on whether victims should pay ransomware hackers.
