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ABOUT THE INITIATIVE AND THE COMMITTEE
Welcome to the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Regulatory Reform Web-Site. On June 8, 2001, HHS Secretary Thompson announced a Department-wide initiative to reduce regulatory burdens in health care and respond faster to the concerns of health care providers, state and local governments, and individual Americans who are affected by HHS rules. As part of this initiative, the Department established the Secretary's Advisory Committee on Regulatory Reform to provide findings in and recommendations regarding potential regulatory changes that would enable HHS programs to reduce burdens and costs associated with Departmental regulations, while at the same time maintaining or enhancing effectiveness, efficiency, impact, and accessibility. The Advisory Committee was established in accordance with the Federal Advisory Committee Act. The Advisory Committee was the principal means for seeking broad-based guidance for the Department's efforts to streamline regulatory requirements. During 2002, the Advisory Committee advised and made recommendations for changes that would have beneficial changes in four broad areas: health care delivery, health systems operations, biomedical and health research, and the development of pharmaceuticals and other products. The Committee reviewed changes identified through regional hearings, written comments from the public and consultation with HHS staff. To learn more about committee activities, click here. A steering committee was established to provide guidance and direction to an ongoing review of HHS regulations. The steering committee members were Bobby Jindal (Chair), Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation, Alex Azar, General Counsel, William Hubbard, Food and Drug Administration Senior Associate Commissioner for Policy, Planning and Legislation, and Tom Scully, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Administrator. |