Department Of Health And Human Services
What Does Department Of Health And Human Services Mean?
The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is a U.S. federal agency responsible for overseeing all programs related to the health and well-being of the nation’s citizens. It is commonly referred to as the Health Department.
Insuranceopedia Explains Department Of Health And Human Services
Established in 1953, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is also responsible for developing programs that promote advancements in health and health-related technologies. Initially, its scope included education and social security, but these functions are now managed by separate agencies.
The department is led by a cabinet secretary appointed by the president. This secretary oversees several assistant secretaries who manage key offices such as the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
As of 2016, HHS, along with Social Security, receives the largest share of the federal budget.
