An HHS-imposed change in how hospitals and states report coronavirus data to the government is drawing fierce criticism from public health groups concerned that the Trump administration could manipulate the numbers for political purposes
A group of public health experts including former CDC Director Tom Frieden called the change unproductive, noting that Inadequate funding for health data at CDC and local agencies is already hindering a response to Covid-19. The experts said the new reporting system would be complicated to set up, adding that the administration hadn't consulted with state and local officials ahead of time.
CDC Director Robert Redfield told reporters on a call Wednesday the change was intended to better streamline the data, reduce reporting burdens and obtain better information to enable the department to distribute scarce resources. The changeover "will halt the flow of crucial information," said Sandra Shullman, president of the American Psychological Association. "State reporting had been improving with greater federal support. Now is not the time to change established processes."
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