HHS falling short in handling public health crises, GAO says

Becker's Healthcare January 28, 2022
Kelly Gooch

HHS leadership in preparing for and responding to public health emergencies leaves room for improvement, a federal watchdog found in a report released Jan. 27.

The Government Accountability Office “found persistent deficiencies” in the department’s ability to perform those responsibilities.

The deficiencies “have hindered the nation’s response to the current COVID-19 pandemic and a variety of past threats, including other infectious diseases — such as the H1N1 influenza pandemic, Zika and Ebola — and extreme weather events, such as hurricanes,” the GAO concluded.

The GAO credited HHS’ efforts to address 115 recommendations it has made related to public health emergencies since fiscal year 2007, but said more than 70 remain open.

“HHS has not addressed our September 2020 recommendation...

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