Health and Human Services

Health and Human Services (HHS) is a department of the United States government that is primarily responsible for protecting the health of all Americans and providing essential human services. The department is especially concerned with those who are least able to help themselves, including low-income individuals, the elderly, and people with disabilities.

History

The Department of Health and Human Services was created in 1979, when the Department of Education was separated from the Department of Health, Education, and Welfare (HEW). The HEW had been established in 1953, replacing the Federal Security Agency that had been created in 1939.

Organization

The HHS is administered by the Secretary of Health and Human Services, who is appointed by the President of the United States and confirmed by the Senate. The Secretary is a member of the President's Cabinet. The current Secretary is Xavier Becerra.

The department includes several agencies and offices, including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the National Institutes of Health (NIH), and the Administration for Children and Families (ACF).

Functions

The HHS carries out federal health and human service policy, research, and programs. This includes public health research and regulations, food and drug safety, healthcare services, and the administration of Medicare and Medicaid. The department also oversees health insurance reforms and the implementation of the Affordable Care Act.

See also

• Public health
• Social services
• United States Department of Health, Education, and Welfare