Here's What You Missed from HHS: August 30, 2020

Latest U.S. Department of Health & Human Services News Releases

HHS Deputy Secretary Hargan Statement on Appointment of Acting CIO August 28, 2020 On Friday, August 28, Jose Arrieta, the Department of Health and Human Services’ Chief Information Officer (CIO), officially resigned as CIO, after serving the department since 2019 and following more than 15 years in federal service. Read full news release

Trump Administration Will Deploy 150 Million Rapid Tests in 2020 August 27, 2020 Today, as part of an historic initiative led by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the Department of and Defense (DOD), the Administration awarded a contract for $760 million to Abbott for delivery of 150 million rapid, Abbott BinaxNOW COVID-19 Ag Card Point of Care (POC) SARS-CoV-2 diagnostic tests to expand strategic, evidence-based testing in the United States. Read full news release

HHS Releases $1.5 Billion to States, Tribes to Combat Opioid Crisis August 27, 2020 Today, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) is distributing the first-year funds of its two-year State Opioid Response (SOR) and Tribal Opioid Response (TOR) grant programs. Read full news release

Trump Administration Announces the Distribution of $2.5 Billion to Nursing Homes for COVID-19 Relief Funding August 27, 2020 Today, the Trump Administration, through the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), is announcing it has now distributed almost $2.5 billion of a planned $5 billion distribution to nursing homes to support increased testing, staffing, and personal protective equipment (PPE) needs. Read full news release

Podcast Spotlight

On this episode of "Learning Curve", Caputo sits down with IHS Director Michael Weahkee to discuss the COVID-19 response in Indian Country, growing up in New Mexico, and the Public Health Service Commissioned Corps. Available Now

HHS Secretary Azar declares Public Health Emergency in California due to wildfires August 26, 2020 Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Alex Azar today declared a public health emergency in California due to wildfires, following President Trump’s major disaster declaration for the state. Read full news release

HHS Secretary Azar declares public health emergencies in Louisiana and Texas due to Hurricane Laura August 26, 2020 Following the lead of President Trump’s emergency declarations for Louisiana and Texas, Health and Human Services Secretary Alex M. Azar today declared public health emergencies in the two states as Hurricane Laura continues its track in the Gulf of Mexico. Read full news release

Trump Administration to Release 1.5 Million N95 Respirators from the Strategic National Stockpile for Distribution to Nursing Homes August 25, 2020 Under the leadership of President Trump, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) today announced the release of 1.5 million N95 respirators from the Strategic National Stockpile (SNS) for distribution to approximately 3,336 nursing home facilities across the United States. Read full news release

YouTube Spotlight

Visit our YouTube channel for the latest official HHS videos and to learn more about how we're working to keep all Americans healthy. Visit the HHS YouTube Channel

HHS Awards $117 Million to Support Health Center Quality Improvement August 25, 2020 Today, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), through the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), announced over $117 million in quality improvement awards to 1,318 health centers across all U.S. states, territories and the District of Columbia. Read full news release

Trump Administration Adds Health Plans to June 2020 Plasma Donation Guidance August 24, 2020 Today, under the leadership of President Trump, the Office for Civil Rights (OCR) at the U.S Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) issued amended guidance on how the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) Privacy Rule permits covered health care providers (e.g., hospitals, pharmacies, laboratories) and health plans to contact their patients and beneficiaries who have recovered from COVID-19 to inform them about how they can donate their plasma containing antibodies (known as "convalescent plasma") to help treat others with COVID-19. Read full news release

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Coronavirus (COVID-19)

Visit CDC.gov for more public health updates on the COVID-19 pandemic and information on how to protect yourself and your loved ones. HHS and our federal partners are working together to execute a whole-of-America response to COVID-19. Learn More »

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services 200 Independence Avenue, S.W. Washington, DC 20201 Toll Free Call Center: 1-877-696-6775 Website: HHS.gov

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