Allen, Claude A.BIOGRAPHY Claude A. Allen Claude A. Allen was confirmed by the Senate as the Deputy Secretary for the Department of Health and Human Services on May 26, 2001. HHS is the federal government's principal agency for protecting the health of all Americans and providing essential human services, especially for those who are least able to help themselves. The department includes some 300 programs, covering a wide spectrum of activities, including medical and social science research, preventing outbreak of infectious disease, assuring food and drug safety, Medicare and Medicaid, financial assistance for low-income families, Head Start, substance abuse treatment and prevention and services for older Americans. The department's budget in fiscal year 2001 is $429 billion. As Deputy Secretary, Allen works closely with HHS Secretary Tommy G. Thompson on all major policy and management issues, and he serves as the department’s chief operating officer. Prior to joining HHS, Allen was Secretary of Health and Human Resources for the Commonwealth of Virginia, leading 13 agencies and 15,000 employees. Allen led Governor Gilmore’s initiative for Virginia’s new Patients Bill of Rights passed in 1999, allowing patient appeals for adverse coverage decisions made by health plans, and direct access to physician specialists. Allen also spearheaded Virginia’s welfare reform initiative and provided leadership to overhaul the state’s mental health institutions and community services. Additionally, Allen was responsible for implementing the Governor’s private health insurance program for children and families, offering lower-cost coverage options to thousands of uninsured Virginians. Before joining the Gilmore administration, Allen was Counsel to the Attorney General, and later, Deputy Attorney General for the Civil Litigation Division in the Office of the Attorney General, Virginia. He reported directly to then-Attorney General Gilmore on legal, legislative, and policy matters, including all health, education and welfare issues. Before joining the Office of the Attorney General, Allen practiced law in Washington, D.C., specializing in government contracts, litigation, and legislative affairs. Allen holds both a Juris Doctorate and a Masters of Law in International and Comparative Law from Duke University Law School. He completed his undergraduate education at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, earning degrees in Political Science and Linguistics. Allen is married to the former Jannese Mitchell and is father of Claude Alexander III, Lila-Cjoan, and Christian Isaiah. |
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