Diverse Coalition Urges HHS to Reverse COVID-19 Data Reporting Requirement

Open The Government led a coalition of 27 organizations in urging Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Alex Azar to rescind a directive to hospitals, hospital laboratories, and acute care facilities to reroute daily COVID-19 data reporting from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention to HHS via a system managed by a private contractor.

In a letter to Azar, the organizations stated HHS’ decision limits transparency and access to public health data, hindering health experts, and the public’s ability to evaluate government response to the coronavirus pandemic.

The letter was co-signed by:

 Alianza Nacional de Campesinas

American Civil Liberties Union

The Carter Center

Center for Reproductive Rights

Center for Science in the Public Interest

Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington

ECI Communications

Equity Forward

Essential Information

FracTracker Alliance

Government Executives International

Government Information Watch

Jacobs Institute of Women’s Health

The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights

NAACP

National Center for Health Research

National Coalition Against Censorship

National Employment Law Project

National Federation of Federal Employees

National Freedom of Information Coalition

National Health Law Program

Open The Government

Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility

Revolving Door Project

Rural Coalition

Special Libraries Association

Union of Concerned Scientists