Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS)

Introduction to Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS)

Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS)

• The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is the United States government’s principal agency for protecting the health of all Americans and providing essential human services, especially for those who are least able to help themselves.
• HHS represents almost a quarter of all federal outlays
• They administer more grant dollars than all other federal agencies combined. 
• HHS works closely with state and local governments, and many HHS-funded services are provided at the local level by state or county agencies, or through private sector grantees. 

The Department’s programs are administered by 11 operating divisions

• 8 agencies in the U.S. Public Health Service 
• 3  human services agencies. 
• The department includes more than 300 programs, covering a wide spectrum of activities. In addition to the services they deliver, the HHS programs provide for equitable treatment of beneficiaries nationwide, and they enable the collection of national health and other data.

DHHS Organizational Chart

DHHS Agencies

• Office for Intergovernmental Affairs (IGA) & Regional Directors 
• Office of Public Health and Science (OPHS)* 
• Office of the Assistant Secretary for Administration (ASA) 
• Office of the Assistant Secretary for Financial Resources (ASFR) 
• Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation (ASPE) 
• Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response (ASPR)* 
• Office of the Assistant Secretary for Legislation (ASL) 
• Office of the Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs (ASPA) 
• Office of the General Counsel (OGC) 
• Office of Medicare Hearings and Appeals (OMHA) 
• Office for Civil Rights (OCR) 
• Office of the Inspector General (OIG) 
• Office of Global Health Affairs (OGHA)* 
• Departmental Appeals Board (DAB) 
• Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC) 
• Center for Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships (CFBNP) 
• Office of Disability (OD) 
• Office of Consumer Information and Insurance Oversight (OCIIO) 
• Office of Health Reform (OHR) 
• Office of Security and Strategic Information (OSSI)
• Administration for Children and Families (ACF) 
• Administration on Aging (AoA) 
• Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ)  
• Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR)* 
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)* 
• Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) 
• Food and Drug Administration (FDA)* 
• Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA)
• Indian Health Service (IHS)
• National Institutes of Health (NIH)
• Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)