HHS

Assistant Secretary for Health James Mason, MD, would get a promotion in the Public Health Service Commissioned Corps above its chief, Surgeon General Antonia Novello, under a provision contained in a vaccine program extension bill. The vaccine measure, HR 4238, was passed by Congress Oct. 15 and is expected to be signed by President Bush. HHS reportedly began pushing for the rank change over a year ago. As head of PHS, Mason oversees eight agencies, including FDA and NIH, with a total budget of $15 bil. and more than 44,000 employees. He is also in the direct policy line at HHS. The promotion would result in about a $10,000 salary increase.