Emerging Tech

HHS Aims to Accelerate Technologies for Combatting Lyme Disease

The often-overlooked illness radically disrupts hundreds of thousands of lives each year.

Ideas

COVID-19 Revealed How Sick the U.S. Health Care Delivery System Really Is

In reality, the U.S. health care sector is not a system at all.

Ideas

Huge Number of COVID Infections Are from People with No Symptoms

Researchers also found that non-symptomatic cases substantially contribute to community transmission.

Digital Government

Snug and Doubled-Up Masks Can Help Stop Covid Spread, CDC Finds

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released new research looking at the effectiveness of wearing two masks at once, or tighter fitting face coverings.

Artificial Intelligence

HHS Makes Strategic Moves to Achieve Ultimate ‘Artificial Intelligence Ambition’

The department’s chief AI officer shed light on what went into a new guiding document—and what’s next.

Modernization

Indian Health Service Seeks Input on Modernization Plan

The agency’s current IT work is guided by a strategic planning document that dates back to 2016.

Digital Government

Synthetic Data Engine to Support NIH’s COVID-19 Research-Driving Effort

It’s all part of a new partnership the agency is embarking on with Syntegra, and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.

Modernization

HHS Websites Will Get Customer Experience Scores in 2021

As part of the updated digital strategy, Health and Human Services Department program offices will be getting graded on a “CX scale.”

Ideas

Why It's Hard to Get People to Take COVID Seriously

It's difficult for public health agencies to raise the right amount of fear in people, an expert says.

Ideas

What Are Emergency Use Authorizations, and Do They Guarantee that a Vaccine or Drug Is Safe?

The first time the FDA issued an EUA was in 2005 for an anthrax vaccine, but just for military personnel.

Digital Government

NIH to Study How Much (More) Americans Are Drinking Alcohol During Pandemic

The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism contracted for a second study to get better data about how the pandemic is affecting Americans’ drinking habits.

Modernization

Lawmakers See Equity-Enhancing Future for Telehealth Beyond Pandemic

Reps. Robin Kelly, D-Ill., and Anna Eshoo, D-Calif., view telehealth services as a key tool to promote equity in health care post-pandemic

Digital Government

Dr. Anthony Fauci Says Americans Should Trust Credibility of COVID-19 Vaccine Process

Fauci, the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, blamed “mixed messages that have come out of Washington” for waning public trust.

Digital Government

HHS to Start Testing Your Poop for COVID-19

Testing will cover approximately 10% of Americans within the next eight weeks, with an option to expand that to 30% within another nine weeks.

Digital Government

‘Invest in Yourself,’ Female Federal CISOs Tell Women Seeking Cyber Jobs

Three female federal chief information security officers discussed how women can advance their careers in the cybersecurity field at a Wednesday webinar.

Digital Government

Bipartisan Bill Would Standardize Public Health Data and Bolster Sharing

The legislation would also establish a cross-agency working group for ongoing recommendations.