Digital Government

NIH’s Governmentwide IT Acquisition Center Appoints Permanent Director

Brian Goodger, who has served as acting director of the National Institutes of Health Information Technology Acquisition and Assessment Center since 2021, will now helm the center in a permanent capacity.

Emerging Tech

FDA Set to Issue Final Rule Classifying VR Therapy Device for Pain Relief

The FDA said the class II designation for AppliedVR’s virtual reality medical device for the treatment of chronic lower back pain will “enhance patients’ access to beneficial innovation.”

Digital Government

CDC Wants Real-time Data on COVID, Flu Vaccine Effectiveness

The public health agency aims to increase its use of real-time data to track the effectiveness of respiratory vaccines and is looking for possible vendor solutions.

Cybersecurity

CMS Subcontractor Breach Potentially Exposes Sensitive Data of 254,000 Customers

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid said the breach involved a subcontractor that appears to have violated its obligations to the agency.

Emerging Tech

GAO: Agencies Need to Conduct Cyber Risk Assessments of IoT, OT Devices in Critical Infrastructure Sectors

A Government Accountability Office report found that the agencies responsible for managing infrastructure in the healthcare and public health, energy and transportation sectors need to better assess their cyber risk mitigation strategies.

Cybersecurity

CISA to Focus on Water, Education and Health Sectors Over the Next Year 

The agency contributed to the release of security requirements for the transportation sector this week and is expected to issue cross-sector performance goals for critical infrastructure companies’ voluntary adoption next week.

Cybersecurity

4 Critical Infrastructure Sectors to Get New Cyber Rules, Per White House Official

The deputy national security advisor for cyber and emerging tech said it should be up to sector-specific agencies to decide who should  implement appropriate cybersecurity defenses.

Artificial Intelligence

Federal Agencies Pledge Support For Biden’s AI Framework

Absent enforceability, public agencies and leadership plan on developing similar AI guidance and protocols to ensure accountable usage and design.

Exclusive Digital Government

'All Options Are on the Table,' HHS Privacy Official Doubles Down on Data Protection

The HHS’s Office of Civil Rights is focusing on guidance and stakeholder coordination to enforce reproductive health data post Roe v. Wade.

Digital Government

HHS Needs to Ensure Telehealth Patients and Providers Understand Privacy Risks

An oversight report underscored the need for improved patient privacy and security disclosures following the pandemic-related telehealth boom.

Digital Government

Public Health Data Still Facing Challenges Despite Previous Recommendations, Watchdog Says

The Government Accountability Office highlighted deficiencies in common data standards, interoperability and public health IT infrastructure.

Artificial Intelligence

NIH Injects $130M to Provide Quality Tools, Data for AI in Medicine

The funding comes from the National Institutes of Health’s Bridge2AI program to advance AI research, as well as ethical tools and standards.

Digital Government

Former Government Scientist Named Inaugural Director of New Health Innovation Agency

Dr. Renee Wegrzyn will lead the new agency––the Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health––aimed at advancing biomedical innovation.

Digital Government

Youth Technical and Social Media Education to Get $2 Million Under New HHS Program

The National Center of Excellence on Social Media and Mental Wellness aims to provide mental health support and education for young users.

Cybersecurity

Congressional Commission Probes HHS Capability to Address Health Sector Ransomware Attacks

The oversight group wants more detailed information on the HHS’ cyberdefenses as digital networks for critical infrastructure remain a target for malicious actors.

Digital Government

Watchdog: CDC Needs Automation to Fix Clunky COVID-19 Tracking for Airlines

The Government Accountability Office said that outdated data collection habits result in difficulty contact tracing for COVID infections among airlines.