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Walensky to Leave CDC in June as Covid Emergency Winds Down

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by Julie Rovner, KFF Health News
Fri, 05 May 2023 20:05:00 +0000

Rochelle Walensky, director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, is stepping down at the end of June after 2½ tumultuous years leading the nation’s primary public health agency — and much of the Biden administration’s effort to combat the covid-19 pandemic.

“I took on this role, at your request, with the goal of leaving behind the dark days of the pandemic and moving CDC — and public health — forward into a much better and more trusted place,” she wrote in her resignation letter to President Joe Biden, which was released Friday.

In a statement from the White House, Biden said Walensky “led a complex organization on the frontlines of a once-in-a-generation pandemic with honesty and integrity.”

Her departure is another mark of the federal government’s official winding down of the covid pandemic response. The nation’s declared public health emergency expires May 11, and on Friday the World Health Organization downgraded the virus from a “global emergency” to a “global health threat.”

White House officials widely expect covid czar Ashish Jha to leave Washington and return to his job in Rhode Island as dean of the Brown University School of Public Health.

Walensky was seen from the start of her tenure as a curious choice to lead the influential agency. An infectious disease specialist who practiced in Boston and taught at Harvard Medical School, she came with little direct experience in public health and none leading a large and labyrinthine organization.

She took over the CDC, which is headquartered in Atlanta, at one of the most difficult times in the agency’s history. Once among the most trusted agencies in the federal government, the CDC fell on particularly hard times during the Trump administration, when officials intervened in the agency’s pandemic response and prompted accusations that the CDC was putting politics ahead of public health.

The perception inside the agency that its science-based recommendations were being ignored or altered contributed to a staff exodus, particularly from the agency’s senior tier. The departures further undercut Walensky’s ability to turn around the agency’s reputation, as well as to reassure a skeptical public that its recommendations were based on what was best for public health, not politics.

Biden has not yet announced a replacement for Walensky. The head of the CDC is one of the few top jobs in the Department of Health and Human Services that does not require Senate confirmation. That is scheduled to change, but not until 2025. So, Biden’s next choice could take the helm immediately.

By: Julie Rovner, KFF Health News
Title: Walensky to Leave CDC in June as Covid Emergency Winds Down
Sourced From: kffhealthnews.org/news/article/rochelle-walensky-leaving-cdc-covid-19-public-health-emergency-expiring/
Published Date: Fri, 05 May 2023 20:05:00 +0000

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Kaiser Health News

Older Americans Living Alone Often Rely on Neighbors or Others Willing To Help

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kffhealthnews.org – Judith Graham – 2024-11-12 03:00:00

SUMMARY: Donald Hammen, 80, relies on his neighbor Julie McMahon for support as he lives alone in Minneapolis. With no close family, he has formed connections with friends, former colleagues, and fellow volunteers, who help him navigate daily challenges. However, he remains uncertain about future care if his health declines. Many older adults like Hammen, lacking close family ties, face similar dilemmas. AARP research shows that only a quarter of solo agers can count on someone for help with basic tasks. Building local support networks is essential, yet many find it challenging to establish reliable connections for assistance in their later years.

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Kaiser Health News

Watchdog Calls for Tighter Scrutiny of Medicare Advantage Home Visits

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kffhealthnews.org – Fred Schulte, KFF Health News – 2024-11-08 04:00:00

SUMMARY: A new federal audit from the Health and Human Services Inspector General highlights concerns over $7.5 billion in Medicare Advantage overpayments linked to home visits that yielded no medical treatment in 2023. Despite these findings, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) declined to limit payments for such visits, arguing they enhance in-home care access. The audit suggests UnitedHealthcare accounted for a significant portion of contested payments, highlighting inefficacies in treating diagnosed conditions. Critics argue CMS needs stronger oversight to prevent potential waste of taxpayer dollars and enforce accurate diagnosis reporting.

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Kaiser Health News

Tribal Health Leaders Say Feds Haven’t Treated Syphilis Outbreak as a Public Health Emergency

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kffhealthnews.org – Jazmin Orozco Rodriguez – 2024-11-07 03:00:00

SUMMARY: South Dakota is grappling with a severe syphilis outbreak, particularly affecting Native American communities, with rates increasing by 1,865% from 2020 to 2022. Public health officials, led by Natalie Holt, are mounting an urgent testing campaign, but are hindered by limited resources since no federal public health emergency has been declared. This year, 75% of the 577 reported cases are among Native Americans, who represent only 9% of the population. Tribal leaders are advocating for more federal support, as they believe enhanced resources are essential to combat the outbreak and prevent further health crises.

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