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Department of Health and Human Services

The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is the U.S. government’s principal agency.  It protects the health of all Americans and provides essential human services for those who are unable to help themselves.   The motto of the Department of Health and Human Services is “Improving the health, safety, and well-being of America”.

HHS is administered by the Secretary of Health and Human Services who is appointed by the President with the advice and consent of the senate.

The work of HHS is conducted by the Office of the Secretary and 11 agencies. These agencies perform a wide variety of tasks and services, including research, public health, food and drug safety, grants and other funding, health insurance, and many others.  

The agencies are:

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

Listed below are the subdivisions of the Office of the Secretary that provide direct support for the Secretary’s initiatives:

  • Immediate Office of the Secretary (IOS)
  • Assistant Secretary for Administration and Management (ASAM)
  • Assistant Secretary for Resource and Technology (ASRT)
  • Assistant Secretary for Health (ASH)/Office of Public and Science(OPHS)
  • Assistant Secretary for legislation (ASL)
  • Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation (ASPE)
  • Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs (ASPA)
  • Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response (ASPR)
  • Departmental Appeals Board(DAB)
  • Office of Civil Rights (OCR)
  • Office of Global Health Affairs (OGHA)
  • Office of Inspector General (OIG)
  • Office of Medicare Hearings and Appeals (OMHA)
  • Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC)
  • Office of General Counsel
  • Center for faith and Communities Initiatives (CFBCI)

Inside Department of Health and Human Services