Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) in the United States
Introduction to Department of Health and Human Services
Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), executive department of the United States federal government, charged with administering a wide range of programs in the fields of health care and social services. The department is headed by the secretary of health and human services, who is appointed by the president with the consent of the Senate and who is a member of the Cabinet. It was established in September 1979.” (1)
It is the United States 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. Agencies of HHS conduct health and social science research, work to prevent disease outbreaks, assure food and drug safety, and provide health insurance.
In addition to administering Medicare and Medicaid, which together provide health insurance to one in four Americans, HHS also oversees the National Institutes of Health, the Food and Drug Administration, and the Centers for Disease Control.
The Secretary of Health and Human Services oversees a budget of approximately $700 billion and approximately 65,000 employees. The Department’s programs are administered by 11 operating divisions, including 8 agencies in the U.S. Public Health Service and 3 human services agencies.
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services in the International Business Landscape
Definition of U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (dhhs) in the context of U.S. international business and public trade policy: Cabinet level department of the federal government most concerned with health, welfare, and income security plans, policies and programs. Formerly titled the Department of health, Education and Welfare.
Legal Materials
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services posts a Web site at www.hhs.gov.
Decisions and other information about the Departmental Appeals Board is posted at www.hhs.gov/dab.
The HHS Office of Inspector General has its own Web site at http://oig.hhs.gov/index.asp. The HHS OIG posts regulations, reports, hearing testimony, the Orange Book, the Red Book, Advisory Opinions, Open Letters, compliance guidance, etc. Corporate integrity agreements made between health care providers and the HHS OIG are posted at http://oig.hhs.gov/fraud/cias.asp.
Offices
The Department of Health and Human Services works to strengthen the public
health and welfare of the American people by providing access to affordable, quality
health care and childcare, ensuring the safety of food products, preparing for public
health emergencies, and improving research efforts to diagnose, treat, and cure lifethreatening
illnesses.
The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) was created as the Department of Health, Education, and Welfare on April 11, 1953 (5 U.S.C. app.).
Secretary
The Secretary of Health and Human Services advises the President
on health, welfare, and income security plans, policies, and programs of the
Federal Government and directs Department staff in carrying out the
approved programs and activities of the Department and promotes general public
understanding of the Department’s goals, programs, and objectives.
For information on the HHS regional of?ces, visit our Web site at http://www.
hhs.gov/about.
Office of Intergovernmental Affairs
The Office of Intergovernmental Affairs (IGA) serves the Secretary as the primary liaison
between the Department and State, local, and tribal governments. The mission of
the Office is to facilitate communication regarding HHS initiatives as they relate
to State, local, and tribal governments. IGA serves the dual role of representing
the State and tribal perspective in the Federal policymaking process as well as
clarifying the Federal perspective to State and tribal representatives.
For further information, see hhs.gov/intergovernmental.
Office of Consumer Information and Insurance Oversight
The Office of Consumer Information and Insurance Oversight (OCIIO) is responsible for ensuring compliance with health insurance market rules, such as prohibitions on termination due to preexisting conditions in children. OCIIO oversees medical loss ratio rules and assists States in reviewing insurance rates. OCIIO also provides guidance and oversight for the State-based insurance exchanges, administers the preexisting conditions insurance plans and the early retiree reinsurance programs, and compiles and maintains data for a Web site providing information on insurance options.
For further information, see, in Internet, hhs.gov/ociio/index.html.
Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response
The Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response (ASPR) was
established under the Pandemic and All Hazards Preparedness Act of 2006.
ASPR leads the Nation in prevention, preparation, and response efforts related
to the adverse health effects of public health emergencies, natural or manmade
disasters, and bioterrorism. ASPR collaborates with Federal, State, local,
tribal, and international of?cials as well as professionals in the private health care
sector to ensure a uni?ed and strategic approach to the challenges of public
health emergencies.
For further information, contact the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response, Room 638–G, 200 Independence Avenue SW., Washington, DC 20201. Internet, http://www.phe.gov/preparedness/pages/default.aspx.
Office of Public Health and Science
The Office of Public Health and Science (OPHS) comprises 13 of?ces and 9
Presidential and secretarial advisory committees. The Assistant Secretary
for Health heads the Office and serves as the Secretary’s senior public health
advisor. OPHS provides assistance in implementing and coordinating
secretarial decisions for the Public Health Service and coordination
of population-based health clinical divisions; provides oversight of
research conducted or supported by the Department; implements programs
that provide population-based public health services; and provides direction
and policy oversight, through the Office of the Surgeon General, for the Public
Health Service Commissioned Corps. OPHS administers a wide array of
interdisciplinary programs related to disease prevention, health promotion, the
reduction of health disparities, women’s and minority health, HIV/AIDS, vaccine
programs, physical ?tness and sports, bioethics, population affairs, blood
supply, research integrity, and human research protections.
For further information, see, in Internet, hhs.gov/ophs/index.html.
Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)
Resources
Notes and References
Guide to Department of Health and Human Services
In this Section
Federal Departments, Department of Agriculture, Department of Commerce, Department of Defense (including Department of Defense Purpose, Department of Defense Organization, Department of Defense Liaison of Command and Department of Defense Supporting Agencies), Department of Education, Department of Energy (including Department of Energy Purpose, Department of Energy Organization and Department of Energy Research and Development), Department of Health and Human Services (including Department of Health and Human Services History and Department of Health and Human Services Agencies and Services), Department of Homeland Security (including Department of Homeland Security Organization and Functions, Department of Homeland Security Origins and Department of Homeland Security Supporting Agencies), Department of Housing and Urban Development, Department of Justice (including Department of Justice Functions, Department of Justice Structure and Department of Justice Associated Agencies), Department of Labor, Department of National Defence, Department of State (including Department of State Administration and Department of State Bureaus), Department of the Air Force, Department of the Army, Department of the Interior (including Department of the Interior Functions and Department of the Interior Principal Agencies), Department of the Navy, Department of the Treasury, Department of Transportation, Department of Veterans Affairs (including the Department of Veterans Affairs Service Categories, Department of Veterans Affairs Benefits Available and GI Bill of Rights) and Department of War.
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Sexual Behaviour and the Law
Resources
See Also
Doctors
Hospitals
Medicare
Medicaid