WebMD Medical News Daniel J. DeNoon Laura J. Martin, MD April 8,
2011 -- What does a government shutdown mean for our health?
Here's WebMD's FAQ, with answers to questions from WebMD readers
and staff. Most government health services are administered by
the Department of Health and Human Services. During the
government shutdown, 62% of HHS employees will not be allowed to
work. The remaining 38% of HHS employees will continue to
administer programs that involve the safety of human life and
protection of property, as well as programs that pay for
themselves. HHS shutdown plans remain sketchy, but here's a
rundown of how the shutdown affects HHS services: The Veterans
Administration is a major source of government supported health
care. Here's how the shutdown affects the VA: Other non-HHS
health services affected by the government shutdown include:
Probably not. However, closing of most of the FDA means that
there will be less drug-safety oversight. Cutbacks at the
Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services me