The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has recently announced a new leader for the agency formerly known as the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology. Dr. Thomas Keane, a clinician and technology developer, has been appointed as the second Assistant Secretary for Technology Policy (ASTP) at HHS and the ninth National Coordinator for Health Information Technology.
Dr. Keane has a diverse background, having previously served as a senior advisor to the deputy secretary of HHS and worked on administering the COVID-19 Provider Relief Fund. He also played a key role in developing the AHRQ National Nursing Home COVID Action Network during the pandemic. With experience as an interventional radiologist, Dr. Keane has also worked as a finite element software developer and enterprise software engineer.
The former ONC was reorganized into ASTP during a major department-wide restructuring about a year ago, under the Biden administration. Since then, there have been significant changes across all of HHS, including the elimination of entire departments. However, ASTP has remained intact, focusing on the adoption of health information technology and the promotion of nationwide, standards-based health information exchange to improve healthcare delivery.
Looking ahead, there may be further changes for the agency as the recent FY26 HHS budget proposal includes funding to establish a new chief technology officer for healthcare. This new role would oversee both ASTP and the Office of the Chief Information Officer, leading and coordinating cybersecurity and health information technology efforts.
The HIMSS Electronic Health Record Association has expressed support for Dr. Keane’s appointment, highlighting his expertise in health policy and commitment to advancing healthcare digitization. They look forward to collaborating with Dr. Keane and ASTP to further enhance health data interoperability and explore regulatory refinements.
In conclusion, Dr. Thomas Keane’s appointment as the new leader of the agency formerly known as ONC brings a wealth of experience and expertise to the role. With a background in both healthcare and technology, he is well-positioned to drive innovation and progress in the field of health information technology.
