Healthcare outcry to HHS’ plans and job cuts limited

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The Department of Health and Human Services’ plan to reduce its workforce by 10,000 and to implement agency restructuring that will raise that number to 20,000 brought swift reaction from two healthcare organizations that work with senior citizens who have Medicare.

Nicole Jorwic, chief of Campaigns and Advocacy at Caring Across Generations, said, “The Department of Health and Human Services has long been a vital resource for older adults, disabled people, and especially our country’s 100 million family caregivers. We are deeply worried that organizational changes and workforce reductions will only exacerbate our country’s patchwork care infrastructure that millions of families are already struggling from.

“Rather than fulfilling campaign promises to help families, President Trump is relentlessly continuing to pursue his political agenda, even if that means causing continued harm to older adults, disabled people, caregivers and care workers.”

Medicare Rights Center President Fred Riccardi said, “Just as you cannot slash billions from Medicaid or close Social Security field offices without harming older adults and people with disabilities, you cannot curtail CMS capacity, dismantle the Administration for Community Living – the only federal agency charged with maximizing the independence, well-being and health of older adults, people with disabilities, their families and their caregivers – or otherwise weaken critical HHS programs, services and functions without causing irreparable damage.”

However, the National Association of Community Health Centers said it was committed to working collaboratively with the Trump administration.

“Our focus will be working collaboratively with agency leaders, this new Administration for a Healthy America and Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to support improvements and restructuring that improves the health of all Americans,” the organization said.

WHY THIS MATTERS

The HHS plan includes a reduction of its workforce by 10,000 employees and consolidating the 28 divisions of the agency to 15, including a new Administration for a Healthy America. 

The new division combines the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health, the Health Resources and Services Administration, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry and the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health into a single entity.

“When combined with HHS’ other efforts, including early retirement and Fork in the Road, the restructuring results in a total downsizing from 82,000 to 62,000 full-time employees,” according to HHS.

HHS intends to close half of its regional offices, reducing the total number from ten to five.

HHS said the changes would not impact critical services and would make it “more responsive and efficient while ensuring that Medicare, Medicaid, and other essential health services remain intact.” 

THE LARGER TREND

The move was made under new HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who was chosen by President Trump to lead the agency. 

Last month, the Senate voted 52-48, largely along party lines, to confirm Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as the new secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services. 

Those opposed cited issues with RFK Jr.’s controversial stance on vaccines.

Email the writer: SMorse@himss.org