HHS (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services)

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has its origins in the late 1700s, when Congress passed an act creating a federal network of hospitals to care for merchant seamen. The HSS once was combined with the Department of Education, which became a separate organization in 1979. The HHS was officially established on May 4, 1980, combining several specialized agencies with the primary goal of protecting the health of Americans and providing essential human services.

Agencies of the HHS

Below are the divisions overseen by the Secretary of Health and Human Services:

• Administration for Children and Families
• Administration on Aging
• Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality
• Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
• Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
• Food and Drug Administration
• Health Resources and Services Administration
• Indian Health Service
• National Institutes of Health
• Office of the Inspector General
• Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration

The HHS is one of the largest departments of the federal government. It encompasses huge federal programs, including Medicare and Medicaid, public health, research, food and drug safety, child and family services, disease prevention and more.