Biography of Claude A. Allen
Deputy Secretary of Health and Human Services
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
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 had a fiscal year budget
in 2003 of nearly $503 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 and his wife are the proud parents of four children.
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