8 Xavier Becerra Secretary Health and Human Services Department

Becerra, appointed to the federal government’s top healthcare post in 2021, has focused the agency’s efforts on a wide range of issues affecting the U.S. population this year. HHS in 2023 proposed a rule that would impose stricter restrictions on short-term health insurance plans. The department is also overseeing an overhaul of the country’s organ transplant system, with authority granted under legislation passed by Congress in July. To address the country’s nursing shortage, HHS’ Health Resources and Services Administration is distributing $100 million to certain universities and health systems to bolster nurse-training programs. Also this year, HHS and two other agencies launched an inquiry into medical credit cards used to cover healthcare services. And as millions of people lost Medicaid coverage due to the unwinding of pandemic provisions, many for procedural reasons, Becerra urged state governors to help eligible individuals stay enrolled.