HHS is transforming the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology into a new super office charged with overseeing the department’s artificial intelligence, cybersecurity and health technology efforts in a major reorganization announced Thursday (July 25). The new office will be headed by National Coordinator Micky Tripathi, who will also serve as acting Chief AI Officer.

The reorganization, announced in the Federal Register Thursday, consolidates functions currently located at ONC, the office of the Assistant Secretary for Administration (ASA), and the Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response (ASPR).

ONC will take a central role in managing policy and strategy for technology, data and AI, and will be renamed the Assistant Secretary for Technology Policy and Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ASTP/ONC). That office will include the HHS-wide roles of Chief Technology Officer, Chief Data Officer, and Chief AI Officer.

HHS is hiring a permanent Chief AI Officer, a Chief Technology Officer and Chief Data Officer and will host a webinar Aug. 1 for individuals interested in the positions.

 “Cybersecurity, data, and artificial intelligence are some of the most pressing issues facing the health care space today. As a Department, HHS must be agile, accountable, and strategic to meet the needs of this moment,” HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra said in HHS’ statement Tuesday. “For decades, HHS has worked across the organization to ensure appropriate and safe use of technology, data, and AI to advance the health and well-being of the American people. This reorganization builds on that success and prepares the Department for the challenges that lie ahead.”

Under the reorganization, the department’s Chief AI Officer will take the lead in setting AI policy and strategy for HHS, including establishing policies and risk management approaches for internal uses of AI.

The Chief Data Officer will continue to oversee data governance and policy development, including data literacy initiatives, and to manage HHS’ data as a strategic asset. 

ASTP/ONC will establish a new Office of the Chief Technology Officer and reinstitute the role of Chief Technology Officer to oversee technology policy across HHS, including a new Office of Digital Services. The position, which will oversee the AI and data officers, will be responsible for “providing strategic leadership to health and human services initiatives and the industry at large on novel technologies, including ethical, legal, and social matters” as well as for executing provisions of the HITECH Act and the 21st Century Cures Act. 

HHS’ public-private partnership on health sector cybersecurity will move from ASA to ASPR’s Office of Critical Infrastructure Protection, where other health cybersecurity efforts are already located.

Tripathi will steer the new office as the assistant secretary for Technology Policy/National Coordinator for Health Information Technology, while also serving as acting Chief AI Officer.

The head of ASTP/ONC will be responsible for, among other functions, coordinating interoperability efforts across HHS and ensuring that HHS’ information technology policies are aligned with other federal agencies, “with a goal of avoiding duplication of effort and of helping to ensure that each agency undertakes activities primarily within the areas of its greatest expertise and technical capability.”

“ONC already plays a critical role in health IT across our agencies and with industry. This reorganization builds on those capabilities to advance all our strategic, mission-focused technology, data, and AI policies and activities,” HHS Deputy Secretary Andrea Palm said in Thursday’s statement. “These organizational changes will ensure that HHS is best situated to serve the American people during this incredibly dynamic time in the technology space.”