Modernization
Lawmakers Push to Make Telehealth Options Permanent
Early data shows patients quickly embraced telemedicine options agencies expanded during the coronavirus pandemic.
Ideas
The Fed's Independence Helped It Save the US Economy in 2008 – the CDC Needs the Same Authority Today
There is a paradox inherent in the relationship between political leaders and technical experts in government.
Digital Government
Officials Detail Preparations for 'Inevitable' Coronavirus Surge This Fall
Dr. Anthony Fauci and others say their agencies are taking "financial risks" to pursue potential treatments and a vaccine, but will not compromise science.
Digital Government
37 IGs Report on Agency Tech Challenges Related to $2.4 Trillion COVID Relief Package
A new report shows similar issues with bandwidth, cybersecurity and aging IT systems across government, exacerbated by the coronavirus pandemic.
Emerging Tech
NIH Partners with Israeli Startup to Generate Synthetic COVID-19 Data
The ultimate aim is to garner new, evidence-based insights to support the fight against the novel coronavirus.
Digital Government
NIH Unveils Centralized Resource for COVID-19 Patient Data
Insiders hope it will “serve as the foundation for addressing future public health emergencies.”
Cybersecurity
Auditors Call on OMB to Ensure Agencies Coordinate on State Cybersecurity Requirements
State officials say duplicative and fragmented requests are sapping their resources.
Artificial Intelligence
CMS Produces ‘Employee Roll Call Bot’ to Account for Workforce Amid Telework
Teleworking can make it tough for agencies to keep a pulse on their personnel, but bots can help.
Digital Government
NIH Explores New Digital Health Solutions to Trace and Fight COVID-19
Two of the agency’s institutes seek new technical tools and data to inform re-entry risks.
Emerging Tech
HHS Proposes ‘IT Control Tower’ to Manage Strategic National Stockpile
The proposal is part of a larger strategy to incorporate the manufacturing, distribution and point-of-care sectors.
Digital Government
HHS Relaxes Data Security and Privacy Enforcement For COVID-19 Test Sites
The agency offered a list of suggested security measures but said it will not be imposing penalties in specific circumstances.
Artificial Intelligence
Agencies Lean Into Automation During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Robotic process automation is accelerating across the National Institutes of Health, Internal Revenue Service and Housing and Urban Development Department.
Digital Government
Audit: HHS Not Maximizing Authorities to Recruit Scientists
The audit suggests the Health and Human Services Department should make use of the 21st Century Cures Act to recruit and retain more government scientists.
Modernization
Centers of Excellence Team With Another Health Agency Amid Pandemic
FDA became the fourth agency in 2020 to join the Centers of Excellence program; ninth overall.
Modernization
GSA to Partner with NIH in Centers of Excellence Initiative
One of the National Institutes of Health agencies will formulate and adopt a modernization strategy under the partnership.
Digital Government
House Lawmakers Press HHS Secretary for Details on Contact Tracing Programs
States are turning to smartphone apps and other digital tools that could compromise privacy, the lawmakers wrote.
Emerging Tech
NIH, FDA and VA 3D-Printing Collaboration Turns to Ventilator Parts
So far, about a dozen designs for personal protective gear have gotten the OK for clinical use.
Digital Government
Lawmakers Push CDC for New Demographic Data on Coronavirus Patients
A group of 17 lawmakers asked the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to collect sex, race, ethnicity and other information to spot potential inequities in health care.
Modernization
Mid-Pandemic, CDC Looks to Upgrade Its Biosurveillance Database
The system collects data from hospitals, local public health departments, pharmacies and more to give researchers and officials a view of how diseases spread across the country.
Digital Government