HHS Secretary Javier Becerra says the changes highlight federal efforts to take a more active role in defining AI and data policy and address cybersecurity concerns.
ONC Chief Micky Tripathi will be Washington’s current point man for AI governance under an ambitious reorganization unveiled this week by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
The reshuffling sharpens federal leadership around data governance and policy as well as AI policy, which has been an ongoing concern in light of the rapid adoption of AI in healthcare and other industries. The changes also highlight federal leadership on cybersecurity, a key pain point at a time when ransomware attacks and cybersecurity outages are happening almost weekly.
Tripathi, formerly head of the Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT (ONC), will become the Assistant Secretary for Technology Policy/National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ASTP/ONC), as well as the Acting Chief AI Officer.
Just a few weeks ago, Tripathi and Troy Tazbaz, director of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's digital health center of excellence, ended their participation as non-votring members of the board of directors of the Coalition for Health AI (CHAI), an organization of more than 1,000 health systems, vendors and others working to develop AI standards and governance. That move, along with this reorganization, signals that the federal government may be distancing itself from collaborating with the healthcare industry.
Alongside AI policy, oversight over technology and data will also shift from the Assistant Secretary for Administration (ASA) to the ASTP/ONC, and the Chief Technology Officer and Chief Data Officer will join Tripathi in that department.
In addition, the Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response (ASPR) will take over the so-called 405(d) Program, a public-private collaboration between the healthcare industry and the federal government addressing cybersecurity.
“Cybersecurity, data, and artificial intelligence are some of the most pressing issues facing the health care space today,” HHs Secretary Xavier Becerra said in a press release issued Thursday morning. “As a department, HHS must be agile, accountable, and strategic to meet the needs of this moment. For decades, HHS has worked across the organization to ensure appropriate and safe use of technology, data, and AI to advance the health and well-being of the American people. This reorganization builds on that success and prepares the department for the challenges that lie ahead.”
“Under the vision and leadership of Secretary Becerra and Deputy Secretary [Andrea} Palm, HHS is fully embracing the importance of information technology to the department’s mission, and consolidating organizational resources accordingly, to lead and shape technology policy across the department’s broad array of external and internal activities,” Tripathi said in a blog.
“For some time, and especially over the last few years, ONC has played an informal role shaping technology and data policy across HHS,” he continued. “This move formalizes this function, which will allow us to build synergies with the work that we’ll continue to do in health IT, and stand-up dedicated organizational capacity to ensure that HHS is making the best use of technology and data across all operating and staff divisions.”
According to HHS, the Chief AI Officer will:
- Set AI policy and strategy for the department;
- Establish internal governance, policies, and risk management approaches for uses of AI internal to HHS;
- Coordinate HHS’ AI approach in the health and human services sectors;
- Support the safe and appropriate use of AI technologies and tools across the department; and
- Coordinate AI-related talent and training initiatives.
Tripathi will fill that role until the federal government concludes its search to fill that role as well as the roles of Chief Data Officer and Chief Technology Officer.
The Chief Data Officer, meanwhile, will:
- Continue to oversee data governance and policy development;
- Drive data literacy and data talent initiatives;
- Manage HHS data strategy;
- Support data collaboration and exchange; and
- Manage HHS’ data as a strategic asset for the department.
Eric Wicklund is the associate content manager and senior editor for Innovation at HealthLeaders.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
The Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT is being renamed the Assistant Secretary for Technology Policy and Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ASTP/ONC).
ONC Chief Micky Tripathi will step into that role and also serve as Acting Chief AI Officer.
The Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response (ASPR) will take over the so-called 405(d) Program, a public-private collaboration between the healthcare industry and the federal government addressing cybersecurity.