By the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Marking the end of the first year of the Trump Administration, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) released a report highlighting accomplishments from 2017.
“In 2017, HHS took bold action to advance its mission to protect and enhance the health and well-being of the American people,” said Caitlin Oakley, HHS press secretary.
“From a newly aggressive approach to combat the opioid crisis to round-the-clock responses to three major hurricanes, the men and women of HHS did extraordinary work this past year to foster healthier Americans, stronger communities, and a safer country.”
Some of the Department’s significant accomplishments, by the numbers include:
HHS engaged with healthcare professionals and providers of all kinds to identify federal regulatory burdens that hurt patients, as well as ways to lower high prescription drug costs.
This resulted in a net decrease in the burden imposed by HHS regulations as well as positive reforms in a range of Medicare payment rules, actions from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and ongoing reviews of further areas for action.
Reflecting the priority President Trump placed on fighting America’s opioid crisis, the department aggressively implemented its five-point strategy for the issue, which included:
- Expanding access to prevention, treatment and recovery services
- Targeting the availability and distribution of overdose reversing drugs
- Strengthening public-health reporting and data
- Supporting cutting edge research on pain and addiction, and
- Advancing pain management
(Acting HHS Secretary Eric Hargan visits CDC Headquarters in Atlanta to discuss the Opioid epidemic with CMS Administrator Verma and CDC Director Dr. Fitzgerald. He leads a roundtable discussion with CDC senior leadership and visits the Emergency Operations Center and a containment laboratory. Courtesy of HHS and YouTube. Posted on an 23, 2018)
Additionally, HHS led a round-the-clock, weeks-long public health response to Hurricanes Harvey, Irma, and Maria, deploying thousands of personnel and collaborating with local officials to inform disaster response, ensure continuity of medical care, and provide emergency services.
The department continues to work in affected areas to restore medical services.
HHS’s participation in top-level international health meetings helped advance President Trump’s firm commitment to global health security and preparedness for a range of cross-border infectious threats.
The department began to implement a process called ReImagine HHS, pursuant to the Office of Management and Budget’s request that each agency come up with a plan for reforming its functions.
HHS, through deep consultation with the department’s employees, coalesced around six strategic shifts for the department, and then announced ten different initiatives under these shifts.
To read the complete document, please visit https://www.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/hhs-end-of-year-accomplishments-2017.pdf.
To Learn More, please visit https://www.hhs.gov/.
