Leading nationwide response to pandemics and public health crises, like COVID-19.
Communicating to the Public: The secretary is responsible for sharing accurate and truthful health information — including sexual and reproductive health care.
Setting Rules and Regulations: The HHS lead can create helpful rules interpreting federal laws such as the ACA — and can eliminate harmful rules on providers and patients that limit access to health care, such as refusal-of-care rules.
Answering Requests from States: The secretary can approve or deny requests from states, such as appeals to receive federal funding for programs that limit access to Planned Parenthood and Medicaid, as well as requests to create programs that expand access to care.
Managing Health Care Coverage for Birth Control and Abortion: Oversight of ACA means the secretary can undermine or advance the ACA’s birth control mandate, as well as empower or dissuade health insurance plans from covering abortion.
The leader of HHS plays a crucial role in:
Leading nationwide response to pandemics and public health crises, like COVID-19.
Communicating to the Public: The secretary is responsible for sharing accurate and truthful health information — including sexual and reproductive health care.
Setting Rules and Regulations: The HHS lead can create helpful rules interpreting federal laws such as the ACA — and can eliminate harmful rules on providers and patients that limit access to health care, such as refusal-of-care rules.
Answering Requests from States: The secretary can approve or deny requests from states, such as appeals to receive federal funding for programs that limit access to Planned Parenthood and Medicaid, as well as requests to create programs that expand access to care.
Managing Health Care Coverage for Birth Control and Abortion: Oversight of ACA means the secretary can undermine or advance the ACA’s birth control mandate, as well as empower or dissuade health insurance plans from covering abortion.