Health and Human Services Glossary
25 essential terms — because precise language is the foundation of clear thinking in Health and Human Services.
Showing 25 of 25 terms
Comprehensive healthcare reform legislation signed into law in 2010 that expanded insurance coverage, created health insurance marketplaces, and enacted consumer protections.
A broad term encompassing mental health, substance use disorders, and the connection between behavior and the well-being of the body and mind.
A large sum of federal money granted to a state or local government with only general provisions on how it should be spent, allowing flexibility in program design.
The deliberate organization of patient care activities and sharing of information among all participants involved in a patient's care to achieve safer and more effective care.
The national public health agency responsible for disease prevention, health promotion, and emergency preparedness and response.
The federal agency that administers Medicare, Medicaid, CHIP, and the Health Insurance Marketplace.
A government agency that investigates reports of child abuse and neglect and provides services to protect children and support families.
A federally funded nonprofit health clinic providing primary care, dental care, and behavioral health services to medically underserved populations regardless of ability to pay.
The branch of medicine dealing with the incidence, distribution, and possible control of diseases and other factors relating to health in populations.
A set of ten categories of services that health insurance plans must cover under the ACA, including hospitalization, prescription drugs, maternity care, and mental health services.
The federal agency responsible for protecting and promoting public health through the regulation of food, tobacco, dietary supplements, prescription and over-the-counter drugs, vaccines, medical devices, and cosmetics.
A system in which a minor is placed into a state-certified caregiver's home when the child's biological parents are unable to care for them, often due to abuse, neglect, or other family challenges.
Preventable differences in the burden of disease, injury, or opportunities to achieve optimal health experienced by socially disadvantaged populations.
An online platform created by the ACA where individuals and families can shop for, compare, and purchase health insurance plans, often with financial assistance.
The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, a federal law that established national standards for the protection of individually identifiable health information.
A healthcare delivery approach that seeks to control costs and improve quality through provider networks, utilization management, and care coordination.
A joint federal-state health insurance program for low-income individuals, including children, pregnant women, elderly adults, and people with disabilities.
A federal health insurance program primarily for individuals aged 65 and older and certain younger people with disabilities, consisting of Parts A, B, C, and D.
The primary federal agency for conducting and supporting biomedical research, consisting of 27 institutes and centers each focused on particular diseases or body systems.
The science and practice of protecting and improving the health of communities through education, promotion of healthy lifestyles, disease prevention, and research.
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, which leads public health efforts to advance behavioral health through programs, policies, and information dissemination.
The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, which provides food-purchasing assistance to low-income individuals and families through electronic benefit transfer cards.
Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, a federal block grant program that provides cash assistance and support services to low-income families with time-limited benefits.
Data on life events such as births, deaths, marriages, and divorces collected by government agencies to monitor population health trends and inform public policy.