“We are writing to let you know that the Office of Long COVID Research and Practice will be closing as part of the administration’s reorganization coming this week,” wrote Ian Simon, the office’s director, in the email, sent Monday. “We are proud of what we have accomplished together advancing understanding, resources, and support for people living with Long COVID.” It said the closing is part of HHS’s reorganization. ...
One HHS employee who works on long Covid, granted anonymity to share details of the move, argued closing the office would not save much money and could cost more over time. Not only could suspending the office’s coordination work lead to overlapping and duplicated efforts, the employee said, but also abandoning work that could cure long Covid means the country’s health care system will have to provide years if not decades of costly care for millions of chronically ill people.
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