WASHINGTON — Long-time disability advocate Henry Claypool has been named director of the HHS Office on Disability. In his new position, Claypool will serve as the primary adviser to the HHS secretary on disability policy and will oversee the implementation of all HHS programs pertaining to Americans with disabilities.
With 25 years of experience developing disability policy at the federal, state and local levels, Claypool has lived the same number of years with a spinal injury. He is "uniquely prepared to expand and improve services that will empower more Americans with disabilities," according to HHS Chief of Staff Laura Petrou.
From 1998-2002, Claypool advised HHS through various positions, including senior adviser for disability policy to CMS during the Clinton administration. From 2005-2006, he served as a senior adviser in the Social Security Administration's Office of Disability and Income Support Programs and was appointed by Virginia Gov. Tim Kaine to serve on the Commonwealth's Health Reform Commission in 2007.
As an expert adviser to the SSA on interim medical benefits, he was also a member of CMS' first Program Advisory and Oversight Committee, formed to advise the agency on its initial implementation of competitive bidding.