Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra Friday elevated the Office of Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response to a standalone HHS agency called the Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response to better coordinate the national response to future disasters and emergencies. HHS said the change recognizes the growing scope of ASPR’s mission to include the Strategic National Stockpile in 2018, public health supply chain in 2020 and HHS Coordination Operations and Response Element (H-CORE) early this year. Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response Dawn O’Connell will continue to lead the office.

Headline
The Utah measles outbreak has increased to 583 cases, the state’s Department of Health and Human Services reported April 7. Of those, 386 cases have been…
Headline
Cases in the Utah measles outbreak have increased to 559, the state’s Department of Health and Human Services reported March 31. The agency said 362 cases have…
Headline
The measles outbreak in South Carolina has increased to 876 cases, the state’s Department of Public Health reported Feb. 3. Last week, the South Carolina…
Headline
Two AHA guides offer strategies for hospitals and health systems in preparing for public health emergencies and disasters and managing cybersecurity incidents…
Headline
The White House Aug. 13 released an executive order directing the Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness…
Headline
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services July 10 announced it will provide resources and flexibilities to health care providers and residents who…