HHS and CMS Establish Healthcare Advisory Committee to Drive Reform and Improve Care Delivery

Doctor talking to the patientPhoto by SHVETS production on Pexels.com

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced the creation of the Healthcare Advisory Committee, a panel of experts tasked with advising federal leaders on strategies to improve how health care is financed and delivered under Medicare, Medicaid, the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), and the Health Insurance Marketplace.

The committee will report directly to HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and CMS Administrator Dr. Mehmet Oz, providing recommendations aimed at strengthening access, accountability, and efficiency across federal health care programs.

“Every American deserves high-quality, affordable care — without red tape, corporate greed, or excessive costs,” Secretary Kennedy said. “This new advisory committee will unite the best minds in healthcare to help us deliver real results, hold the system accountable, and drive forward our mission to Make America Healthy Again.”

Goals of the Healthcare Advisory Committee

The committee will be responsible for developing actionable policy recommendations and identifying opportunities to modernize care delivery. According to CMS, its work will focus on:

  • Chronic Disease Prevention and Management — Promoting strategies to reduce the burden of preventable diseases and improve long-term health outcomes.
  • Accountability Frameworks — Proposing a regulatory structure that prioritizes patient safety and outcomes while minimizing unnecessary administrative red tape.
  • Real-Time Data Integration — Leveraging data-driven solutions to streamline claims processing, improve quality measurement, and reward high-performing providers.
  • Medicaid Program Enhancements — Identifying structural opportunities to raise care standards and outcomes for the nation’s most vulnerable populations.
  • Sustainability of Medicare Advantage — Evaluating ways to modernize risk adjustment and quality measures to ensure continued program effectiveness and improve patient results.
READ:  FDA Authorized to Fast-Track Animal Drugs to Combat New World Screwworm Threat
Nomination Process Underway

CMS is now accepting nominations for advisory committee membership. Candidates with expertise in chronic disease prevention, health care financing, delivery system reform, and data integration are encouraged to apply. Nominations may be submitted by individuals or organizations and must be received within 30 days of the committee’s publication in the Federal Register. Selected members are expected to be announced later this year.

A Push for Modernization and Accountability

CMS Administrator Oz highlighted the urgency of reform and innovation across federal health programs. “This is a moment for action,” Oz said. “This committee will help us cut waste, reduce paperwork, expand preventive care, and modernize CMS programs with real-time data and accountability, all while keeping patients at the center. We are calling on experts across the country to join us in this effort to help us Make America Healthy Again.”

READ:  Pennsylvania Joins 22-State Push to Continue National Youth Tobacco Survey

With the launch of the Healthcare Advisory Committee, HHS and CMS aim to align policy, technology, and patient-focused reforms to improve health outcomes while strengthening program integrity and long-term sustainability.

For the latest news on everything happening in Chester County and the surrounding area, be sure to follow MyChesCo on Google News and MSN.