Key Policy Staff Shakeup Continues at HHS

ANCOR is sharing this article by Politico Pro because it is important for our members to stay informed of key players in the health policy arena, given that the majority of disability supports are funded by Medicaid.

As shared by Politico Pro:

“HHS Secretary Alex Azar this morning announced that he is reorganizing agency leadership and tapped Judy Stecker, the department’s top communications official, as his new deputy chief of staff for operations and strategy.

Most HHS divisions will now have a senior adviser serving as the first point of contact in Azar’s office. For instance, Danielle Steele will oversee FDA, NIH and AHRQ, and Jim Parker will serve as first point of contact for CMS and the office of health reform.

[…]

Stecker, who will take on the deputy chief of staff role when she returns from maternity leave later this year, will continue to serve as the assistant secretary for public affairs.

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Azar also is creating a second deputy chief of staff position to focus on policy. HHS declined to comment on who will fill that role.

The moves come amid a broader shake-up in the HHS front office. Azar this morning will swear in Brian Harrison as his new chief of staff. Harrison previously was deputy chief of staff to Peter Urbanowicz, who announced his departure last month.”