HHS Reorganization Centralizes Authority Under CMS Leadership
HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announces major reorganization centralizing department operations under CMS leadership, while Duke University telehealth program shows 66% reduction in repeat ER visits for older adults who fall.
Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has announced a major reorganization to streamline the HHS, centralizing department operations under CMS leadership. The move effectively centralizes authority, bringing senior leaders from the FDA into the secretary's immediate office.
Chris Klomp, the current director of Medicare, will now oversee all department operations as chief counselor. The goal is a unified front to implement the administration's reforms on drug pricing and regulatory transparency.
Meanwhile, researchers at Duke University have successfully piloted e-GAPcare, a telehealth model designed to prevent repeat emergency room visits for the 3 million older adults who fall each year. By providing remote consultations with physical therapists and pharmacists while the patient is still in the emergency department, the program reduced the number of six-month fall-related ED visits by 66%. This virtual shift allows smaller hospitals to access the same life-saving specialty care as major medical centers.