“House lawmakers are calling on the congressional watchdog agency to review the Trump administration’s recent order for hospitals to report their coronavirus data to a private contractor through the Health and Human Services Department, instead of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which has traditionally been in charge of public health data.”
“Reps. Frank Pallone Jr., D-N.J., chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee; and Anna Eshoo, D-Calif., and Diana DeGette, D-Colo., both subcommittee chairwomen, asked the Government Accountability Office on Wednesday to investigate the new reporting requirements and implications of the administration’s mid-July order. The administration said the shift was designed to streamline the data reporting process and better assist the White House coronavirus task force; however, the move prompted concerns from state health officials, doctors, lawmakers, data experts, and current and former members of a federal health advisory committee. Over the last month and a half, there have been questions raised about the quality of the data, process by which the contract was awarded and potential political interference…”
“The lawmakers separated their investigation request into three categories: positive or negative effects on federal, state and local health departments, patients and hospitals; data quality and use; and the decision process to make the switch and award a $10.2 million contract to Teletracking Technologies…” Read the full article here.
Source: Lawmakers Ask Watchdog to Review New Coronavirus Data Reporting System Housed Within HHS – By Courtney Bublé, August 20, 2020. Government Executive.
