Government shutdown requires ONC to furlough all but four staff

With legislators failing to reach a last-minute compromise on budget legislation to avoid a shutdown, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the Office of the National Coordinator for health IT (ONC) in particular, are forced to furlough a significant percentage of staff unless the impasse is broken. In all, this first government shutdown in 17 years is affecting 800,000 federal workers.

The absence of appropriations means that HHS must furlough 40,512 staff and retain 37,686 staff as of day two of a near-term funding hiatus, according to HHS’ fiscal year 2014 contingency staffing plan.

ONC is sharply feeling the impact of the shutdown. Of its 184 staff, only four are avoiding furloughs—with three of them charged with facilitating the orderly phase-down and suspension of operations.

“ONC will be unable to continue the Standards and Interoperability Framework activities as well as related standards and testing activities; policy activities such as privacy, security and clinical quality measure development; and administration of the certified health IT product list,” according to the contingency plan.

Other impacts within HHS include:

• The Centers for Medicaid & Medicare Services are stopping discretionary funding for healthcare fraud and abuse strike force teams. Fewer recertification and initial surveys for Medicare and Medicaid providers will be completed.

• The National institutes of Health are ceasing admission of new patients and discontinuing some veterinary services.

• The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention no longer will support the annual seasonal influenza program, outbreak detection and linking across state boundaries using genetic and molecular analysis, continuous updating of disease treatment and prevention recommendations and technical assistance, analysis and support infectious disease surveillance.

• The Agency for Healthcare Research & Quality is unable to fund new grants and contracts related to health services research initiatives, including research on improving patient safety and reducing healthcare-associated infections.

• The Food and Drug Administration is unable to support the majority of its food safety, nutrition and cosmetic activities.