The Department of Homeland Security works with security experts across industries to make better the collection and sharing of cyber threat data. Congressional members of the U.S. House Homeland Security Committee on the day of March 9 heard testimony from industry representatives on the value and effectiveness of working with DHS. For the healthcare sector, the worth of cyber threat information disseminated by the government can differ dramatically, said Daniel Nutkis, CEO of stakeholder security collaborative HITRUST, in prepared testimony. HITRUST asked the organizations to offer more tight security assistance.
The Cybersecurity Act of 2015 and Executive Order 13691 developed the necessity of industry information sharing and analysis organizations (ISAOs) to participate in the sharing of cyber data with the government and offered more tight security assistance, Nutkis pointed out.
Technical and operational problems surfaced when industry previously started sharing threat data through DHS’ Automated Indicator Sharing program (AIS). “They have since been addressed, but we would motivate greater engagement by DHS with AIS participants to make sure the alignment with ongoing and future needs,” Nutkis testified. That claimed, the work of DHS is benefiting the healthcare industry, and the engagement with the organization has been productive, he contended.
However, few government activities are undermining sharing programs in the private sector and among data sharing and analysis organizations, he added. “There are efforts underway that will deviate from this attempt by requiring healthcare agencies to merely share information straightly with the Department of Health and Human Services—an agency not even identified in the Cybersecurity Act of 2015 as affording safe harbor liability protections,” Nutkis told lawmakers.
In accordance to HHS, although, no one or any agency is required to report threat data to the agency. HITRUST asked the organizations to offer more tight security assistance.
The CISA law, he argued, places DHS at the center of data sharing with the private and civilian sector. “Since HITRUST has led the industry in the collection of indicators of compromise through the development of increased standards and collection practices, and was the first healthcare agency to start sharing bi-directionally with DHS’s AIS program, we find these efforts unnerving as they are surely contrary to the original intent of CISA and commitment of government to partner with industry through the Information Sharing and Analysis Organization program.”
The private sector, he further added, should be believed to be a partner with government partners and the government should have a universal and consistent approach when engaging industry.
Showing posts with label DHS. Show all posts
Showing posts with label DHS. Show all posts
Saturday, March 11, 2017
Sunday, February 26, 2017
Umatilla County Human Services rolls out the expansion of drug, alcohol; treatment
Umatilla County Human Services rolled out an expansion of drug treatments and alcohol rehab programs at the start of February month. Department director Amy Ashton-Williams claimed that the moves are about offering more services to more individuals.
Ashton-Williams took the job in the year of July 2016 to head up a county division that lost its director and 2 alcohol and drug counselors the year before after an administrative investigation. She stated that the department’s staff was doing the best it could in the wake of the turmoil, but she needed to explore ways to better give intensive outpatient treatment for individuals with drug or alcohol issues.
“It took about 4 months of evaluating what new curriculum we required, what really were the requirements of our clients ... and getting a couple of clinicians trained in a specialized parenting program,” she said.
The expansion gives a “pretty comprehensive outpatient program,” she stated, that considered the needs in Pendleton, Hermiston and Milton-Freewater.
Milton-Freewater went from 3 drug and alcohol groups to five, involving two for Spanish speakers and an English-speaking group concentrated on how to stop addiction relapses. Ashton-Williams also said a third Spanish-speaking group is likely.
Hermiston and Pendleton added groups in the mornings and afternoons to better meet the requirements of swing and day shift workers. The Umatilla County Human Services also added a drop-in group at 8:30 a.m. in Hermiston and one at noon in Pendleton. She stated that these are good fits for those who’re not certain they have an issue or about treatment but want to check out the possibilities.
Hermiston and Pendleton also now have groups meeting twice a week for youth with addiction issues. Ashton-Williams claimed that there are 5 clients in Hermiston and 3 in Pendleton, and she is hopeful those will draw more youth in need.
“We know in our communities there are youth who’ve struggled hard with alcohol and drug use,” she stated, and these groups can assist break those cycles of addiction.
And 2 human services workers learned the community model of the Parenting Inside Out program, which the prison system utilizes to teach parenting skills to offenders. Ashton-Williams claimed that the community model is for parents with open cases in the Oregon Department of Human Services.
“We’ve many clients that come to us from DHS,” she asserted, and this program deals with parenting “from birth until they leave the home.”
Ashton-Williams applauded the clinicians with making the improvements while still giving stress and anger management and other services.
And starting in the month of March, she said her department is joining hands with county public health to have an alcohol and drug prevention worker take on suicide prevention.
Umatilla County Human Services, like other regional governments, is searching at a tight budget for the time period of 2016-17. Ashton-Williams said her staff knows that road well and know how to do more with less.
“We have seen a minor decrease in our budget from the state,” she said, “but not so much that we cannot continue the services that we are presently providing.”
Ashton-Williams took the job in the year of July 2016 to head up a county division that lost its director and 2 alcohol and drug counselors the year before after an administrative investigation. She stated that the department’s staff was doing the best it could in the wake of the turmoil, but she needed to explore ways to better give intensive outpatient treatment for individuals with drug or alcohol issues.
“It took about 4 months of evaluating what new curriculum we required, what really were the requirements of our clients ... and getting a couple of clinicians trained in a specialized parenting program,” she said.
The expansion gives a “pretty comprehensive outpatient program,” she stated, that considered the needs in Pendleton, Hermiston and Milton-Freewater.
Milton-Freewater went from 3 drug and alcohol groups to five, involving two for Spanish speakers and an English-speaking group concentrated on how to stop addiction relapses. Ashton-Williams also said a third Spanish-speaking group is likely.
Hermiston and Pendleton added groups in the mornings and afternoons to better meet the requirements of swing and day shift workers. The Umatilla County Human Services also added a drop-in group at 8:30 a.m. in Hermiston and one at noon in Pendleton. She stated that these are good fits for those who’re not certain they have an issue or about treatment but want to check out the possibilities.
Hermiston and Pendleton also now have groups meeting twice a week for youth with addiction issues. Ashton-Williams claimed that there are 5 clients in Hermiston and 3 in Pendleton, and she is hopeful those will draw more youth in need.
“We know in our communities there are youth who’ve struggled hard with alcohol and drug use,” she stated, and these groups can assist break those cycles of addiction.
And 2 human services workers learned the community model of the Parenting Inside Out program, which the prison system utilizes to teach parenting skills to offenders. Ashton-Williams claimed that the community model is for parents with open cases in the Oregon Department of Human Services.
“We’ve many clients that come to us from DHS,” she asserted, and this program deals with parenting “from birth until they leave the home.”
Ashton-Williams applauded the clinicians with making the improvements while still giving stress and anger management and other services.
And starting in the month of March, she said her department is joining hands with county public health to have an alcohol and drug prevention worker take on suicide prevention.
Umatilla County Human Services, like other regional governments, is searching at a tight budget for the time period of 2016-17. Ashton-Williams said her staff knows that road well and know how to do more with less.
“We have seen a minor decrease in our budget from the state,” she said, “but not so much that we cannot continue the services that we are presently providing.”
Wednesday, March 17, 2010
State and Local Edition
| Inside This Issue – News |
Minnesota DHS Reduces Mental Health Funding, Plans Mental Health System Reform
As part of Governor Tim Pawlenty's (R) latest budget recommendations, the Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS) plans to reduce mental health spending by $17 million while broadening access to care. DHS plans to close mental health facilities in Cold Spring, Mankato, and Eveleth and cut 200 full-time positions by June 30, 2011. However, DHS also plans to redesign its service delivery system, creating new psychiatric care centers to provide assessments and 1-day crisis care. The state says the new facilities will provide faster assessment and placement than the current system and plans to create additional step-down facilities for subsequent treatment. In addition, DHS' new system will shift the responsibility for transporting mentally ill patients away from law enforcement.
Montana Governor Seeks Federal Permission To Import Prescription Drugs From Canada
On March 11, Governor Brian Schweitzer (D) announced plans to seek Federal permission to import prescription drugs from Canada for use in state insurance programs. Governor Schweitzer estimates that importing the drugs could reduce the state's $100 million annual prescription drug costs for Medicaid, Children's Health Insurance Program, state employees, and inmates by $40 million. The governor is asking Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius to certify the Canadian drugs as safe and waive Medicaid provisions requiring that states spend such funds within the United States. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid officials said they had not yet seen Montana's proposal and could not comment.
North Carolina DHHS Implements Medicaid Preferred Drug List, Estimates $90 Million Annual Savings
Effective March 15, the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) instituted a preferred-drug list for the state's Medicaid program, estimated to save the state $90 million annually. Initially, the preferred list will include all drugs currently covered under Medicaid; however, DHHS will remove some drugs over time in consultation with the North Carolina Physician's Advisory Group. In addition, the state plans to consult mental health experts before removing any mental health medications from the preferred list. Nonpreferred drugs will remain available with prior authorization and for children requiring certain medication under the Early Periodic Screening, Diagnosis, and Treatment Program.
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