WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Department of Health and Human Services rolled out a wide range of new initiatives last week, announcing efforts to overhaul rural health care, curb youth vaping, enforce civil rights protections, tighten oversight of the organ transplant system, and update national vaccination recommendations.
On Sept. 15, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services unveiled details of a $50 billion Rural Health Transformation Program, created under the Working Families Tax Cuts Act, to modernize health care across rural America. The initiative, the largest federal investment of its kind, will provide $10 billion annually over five years to states that submit approved applications. Funds will be split between equal distribution and awards based on state-specific metrics. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said the program would “deliver dignity and dependable care to rural communities,” while CMS Administrator Dr. Mehmet Oz said it would “spark real change” by improving access, care models, and workforce development.
Also on Sept. 15, HHS launched a push to curb youth vaping, releasing a Youth Vaping Resource Guide as part of a broader crackdown on illegal e-cigarette products. Officials highlighted the seizure of 4.7 million unauthorized vaping devices worth an estimated $86.5 million at a Chicago port. Kennedy called vaping a direct threat to children’s brain development, while FDA Commissioner Marty Makary vowed continued enforcement against illegal imports.
The following day, HHS’ Office for Civil Rights opened an investigation into allegations that an HHS-funded national organization used race-based criteria in awarding legal scholarships. OCR Director Paula M. Stannard said the probe would determine whether the program violated Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which prohibits racial discrimination in federally funded programs.
On Sept. 18, HHS announced it would decertify the Life Alliance Organ Recovery Agency at the University of Miami after investigators uncovered unsafe practices, chronic underperformance, and administrative failures. Kennedy described the move as part of a broader reform of the organ procurement system, stressing that “an organ procurement organization must serve as the trusted custodian of every donated organ.” CMS said the action reflected a drive to enforce stronger oversight, data transparency, and patient safety requirements.
That same day, Kennedy hosted roundtables on Long COVID, bringing together patients, clinicians, and lawmakers to develop new strategies for research and care. The department also unveiled a public education campaign, an open-source resource hub for providers, and new research from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality on health insurance coverage among Long COVID patients.
Meanwhile, the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices voted to recommend standalone chickenpox vaccinations for toddlers ages 12 to 36 months instead of the combined measles, mumps, rubella, and varicella vaccine, citing a reduced risk of febrile seizures. On Sept. 19, ACIP issued another recommendation that COVID-19 vaccination be based on individual decision-making for all individuals six months and older, stressing greater provider-patient discretion. The committee also endorsed routine Hepatitis B testing for pregnant women.
Together, the announcements underscore a sweeping shift in health policy under the Trump administration, blending large-scale federal investments with targeted regulatory and enforcement actions aimed at reshaping health care delivery and oversight nationwide.
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