The United States Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), is a Cabinet department of the United States government with the goal of protecting the health of all Americans and providing essential human services.

The department was created when President Jimmy Carter signed the Department of Education Organization Act (PL 96-88) into law on October 17, 1979. It split the Department of Health, Education, and Welfare, (HEW), which included the Social Security Administration, agencies constituting the Public Health Service, Family Support Administration, and the Office of Education into the Department of Health and Human Services and the United States Department of Education. Both began operation on May 4, 1980. (In 1995, the Social Security Administration was removed from the Department of Health and Human Services, and established as an independent agency of the executive branch of the United States Government).

It is administered by the United States Secretary of Health and Human Services, currently Michael O. Leavitt, who is appointed by the President of the United States. The United States Public Health Service (PHS) is the main division of the HHS and is led by the Assistant Secretary for Health. The United States Public Health Service Commissioned Corps, the uniformed service of the PHS, is led by the Surgeon General who is responsible for addressing matters concerning public health as authorized by the Secretary or by the Assistant Secretary of Health in addition to his primary mission of administering the Commissioned Corps.

In 2002, the department released Healthy People 2010, a national strategic initiative for improving the health of Americans.

Operating divisions and agencies

• Office of the Secretary of Health and Human Services (OS) - currently led by Secretary Michael Leavitt
  • Office of the Deputy Sercretary of Health and Human Services (ODS) - currently led Deputy Secretary by Tevi Troy
    • Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health (OASH) - currently led by Assistant Secretary, Admiral Joxel García, USPHS
      • Public Health Service (PHS) - under the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health
        • Administration for Children and Families (ACF) - currently led by Acting Assistant Secretary Daniel Schneider
        • Administration on Aging (AOA)- currently led by Assistant Secretary Josefina Carbonell
        • Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ)- currently led by Director Carolyn Clancy
        • Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) - currently led by Director Julie Gerberding
          • Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) - currently led by Director Howard Frumkin
        • Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) - currently led by Acting Administrator Kerry Weems
        • Food and Drug Administration (FDA) - currently led by Commissioner Andrew von Eschenbach
        • Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) - currently led by Administrator Betty Duke
        • Indian Health Service (IHS) - currently led by Acting Director, Robert G. McSwain
        • National Institutes of Health (NIH) - currently led by Director Elias Zerhouni
        • Program Support Center (PSC) - currently led by Director Philip Van Landingham
        • Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)- currently led by Administrator Charles Curie
        • Public Health Service Commissioned Corps (PHSCC) - currently led by Acting Surgeon General, Rear Admiral Steven K. Galson, USPHS

Former operating divisions and agencies

• Social Security Administration, made independent in 1995.
• Health Care Financing Administration

Budget

The Department of Health and Human Services' budget includes more than 300 programs, covering a wide spectrum of activities. Some highlights include:

• Health and social science research
• Preventing disease, including immunization services
• Assuring food and drug safety
• Medicare (health insurance for elderly and disabled Americans) and Medicaid (health insurance for low-income people)
• Health information technology
• Financial assistance and services for low-income families
• Improving maternal and infant health
• Head Start (pre-school education and services)
• Faith-based and community initiatives
• Preventing child abuse and domestic violence
• Substance abuse treatment and prevention
• Services for older Americans, including home-delivered meals
• Comprehensive health services for Native Americans
• Medical preparedness for emergencies, including potential terrorism.

Related legislation

• 1946 - Hospital Survey and Construction Act (Hill-Burton Act) PL 79-725
• 1949 - Hospital Construction Act PL 81-380
• 1950 - Public Health Services Act Amendments PL 81-692
• 1955 - Poliomyelitis Vaccination Assistance Act PL 84-377
• 1956 - Health Research Facilities Act PL 84-835
• 1960 - Social Security Amendments (Kerr-Mill aid) PL 86-778
• 1961 - Community Health Services and Facilities Act PL 87-395
• 1962 - Public Health Service Act PL 87-838
• 1962 - Vaccination Assistance PL 87-868
• 1963 - Mental Retardation Facilities Construction Act/Community Mental Health Centers Act PL 88-164
• 1964 - Nurse Training Act PL 88-581
• 1965 - Community Health Services and Facilities Act PL 89-109
• 1965 - Medicare PL 89-97
• 1965 - Mental Health Centers Act Amendments PL 89-105
• 1965 - Heart Disease, Cancer, and Stroke Amendments PL 89-239
• 1966 - Comprehensive Health Planning and Service Act PL 89-749
• 1970 - Community Mental Health Service Act PL 91-211
• 1970 - Family Planning Services and Population Research Act PL 91-572
• 1970 - Lead-Based Paint Poisoning Prevention Act PL 91-695
• 1971 - National Cancer Act PL 92-218
• 1974 - Research on Aging Act PL 93-296
• 1974 - National Health Planning and Resources Development Act PL 93-641
• 1979 - Department of Education Organization Act (Created HHS) PL 96-88
• 1987 - Department of Transportation Appropriations Act PL 100-202
• 1988 - Medicare Catastrophic Coverage Act PL 100-360
• 1989 - Department of Transportation and Related Agencies Appropriations Act PL 101-164
• 1996 - Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act

See also

• Global Health Security Initiative
• Healthy People 2010
• William R. Steiger

External links

• United States Department of Health and Human Services Official Website
• Department Of Health And Human Services Meeting Notices and Rule Changes from The Federal Register RSS Feed

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