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HHS 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.
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is a cabinet-level executive branch department of the federal government. Its mission is to enhance and protect the health and well-being of all Americans by providing effective health and human services and fostering advances in medicine, public health, and social services.
With a budget of over $1.7 trillion, HHS represents almost a quarter of all federal outlays and administers more grant dollars than all other federal agencies combined. HHS works closely with state and local governments to deliver services at the community level.
The FDA is responsible for protecting public health by ensuring the safety, efficacy, and security of human and veterinary drugs, biological products, medical devices, food supply, cosmetics, and products that emit radiation. The FDA also regulates tobacco products.
The CDC is the nation's leading science-based, data-driven service organization that protects the public's health. It conducts critical research, provides health information, and responds to health threats including infectious disease outbreaks, natural disasters, and bioterrorism.
The NIH is the nation's medical research agency and the largest biomedical research agency in the world. It consists of 27 Institutes and Centers, each focused on particular diseases or body systems. NIH funds and conducts research to enhance health, lengthen life, and reduce illness and disability.
SAMHSA leads public health efforts to advance the behavioral health of the nation. It reduces the impact of substance abuse and mental illness on America's communities through programs, policies, and information dissemination.
The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) is a landmark federal law enforced by HHS that sets national standards for the protection of individually identifiable health information. HIPAA established three key rules:
HHS leads numerous public health initiatives aimed at improving the health of all Americans. These include programs for disease prevention, health promotion, emergency preparedness, and advancing health equity.
Healthy People 2030 national health objectives
National vaccination programs
Pandemic preparedness and response
Mental health and substance abuse prevention
Health IT and interoperability standards
Maternal and child health programs
HHS is the United States government principal agency for protecting the health of all Americans and providing essential human services. It oversees more than 100 programs across its operating divisions.
HHS includes agencies such as the FDA (Food and Drug Administration), CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention), NIH (National Institutes of Health), CMS (Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services), and SAMHSA (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration), among others.
HHS protects public health through disease surveillance and prevention (CDC), food and drug safety regulation (FDA), biomedical research (NIH), emergency preparedness, and health information technology initiatives.
HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act) is a federal law that protects sensitive patient health information. The HHS Office for Civil Rights (OCR) is responsible for enforcing HIPAA Privacy and Security Rules, ensuring healthcare providers, health plans, and their business associates safeguard patient data.
HHS promotes healthcare innovation through the NIH (funding biomedical research), the ONC (advancing health IT and interoperability), CMS Innovation Center (testing new payment and care delivery models), and BARDA (developing medical countermeasures for public health emergencies).
The HHS Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response (ASPR) leads the nation's medical and public health preparedness for, response to, and recovery from disasters and public health emergencies. HHS coordinates with federal, state, and local partners to ensure an effective response.