May 12, 2025
The Post-Acute and Long-Term Care Medical Association (PALTmed) has signed onto a joint letter to the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP), joining a coalition of health and technology organizations in urging protection of the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Technology Policy (ASTP) at the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).
The letter, coordinated by the Friends of ASTP Coalition, was sent to HELP Committee Chairman Bill Cassidy, MD (R-LA), and Ranking Member Bernie Sanders (I-VT) ahead of a planned May 14 hearing with HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. It outlines the critical role ASTP plays in coordinating national health data, digital infrastructure, and the safe implementation of artificial intelligence in health care.
Formerly known as the Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT (ONC), ASTP has long supported interoperability, data security, and health innovation. However, it currently lacks a nominated leader, and the leaked FY 2026 Trump Administration budget proposes its elimination, which raised concerns for the group.
The coalition’s letter calls on lawmakers to press Secretary Kennedy for clarity on the administration’s plans and to emphasize the risks of defunding ASTP, particularly in areas such as chronic disease research, AI oversight, and enforcement of Health Data, Technology, and Interoperability (HTI) rules.
