United States Department of Health and Human Services

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Agency overview
Department of Health and Human Services
HHS Logo
Official seal
Formed	April 11, 1953 May 4, 1980
Preceding Agency	United States Department of Health, Education, and Welfare
Jurisdiction	Federal government of the United States
Headquarters	Hubert H. Humphrey Building, Washington, D.C.
Employees	67,000 (2004)
Annual Budget	Discretionary: $67.2 billion (2006) Mandatory: $573.5 billion (2006)
Agency Executives	Michael O. Leavitt, Secretary Tevi Troy, Deputy Secretary
Child Agency	HHS agencies
Website
www.hhs.gov

The United States Department of Health and Human Services, often abbreviated HHS, is a Cabinet department of the United States government with the goal of protecting the health of all Americans and providing essential human services.

The department was created when President Jimmy Carter signed the Department of Education Organization Act (PL 96-88) into law on October 17, 1979. It split the Department of Health, Education, and Welfare, (HEW), which included the G.I. Bill and Veterans' Administration into the Department of Health and Human Services and the United States Department of Education. Both began operation on May 4, 1980.

It is administered by the United States Secretary of Health and Human Services, currently Michael O. Leavitt, who is appointed by the President of the United States. The United States Public Health Service (PHS) is the main division of the HHS and is led by the Assistant Secretary for Health. The United States Public Health Service Commissioned Corps, the uniformed service of the PHS, is led by the Surgeon General who also serves as the leading spokesperson on matters of public health in the U.S. government.

In 2002, the department released Healthy People 2010, a national strategic initiative for improving the health of Americans.

Operating Divisions

Office of the Secretary of Health and Human Services (OS)- currently led by Secretary Michael Leavitt
Administration for Children and Families (ACF) - currently led by Acting Assistant Secretary Daniel Schneider
Administration on Aging (AOA)- currently led by Assistant Secretary Josefina Carbonell
Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ)- currently led by Director Carolyn Clancy
Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR)- is under the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)- currently led by Director Julie Gerberding
Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) (formerly the Health Care Financing Administration) - currently led by Acting Administrator Leslie Norwalk
Food and Drug Administration (FDA) - currently led by Commissioner Andrew von Eschenbach
Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA)- currently led by Administrator Betty Duke
Indian Health Service (IHS) - currently led by Director Charles Grim, RADM, USPHS
National Institutes of Health (NIH) - currently led by Director Elias Zerhouni
Program Support Center (PSC) - currently led by Director Philip Van Landingham
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)- currently led by Administrator Charles Curie

It no longer includes the Social Security Administration, which was made independent in 1995.

Related legislation

1946 - Hospital Survey and Construction Act (Hill-Burton Act) PL 79-725
1949 - Hospital Construction Act PL 81-380
1950 - Public Health Services Act Amendments PL 81-692
1955 - Poliomyelitis Vaccination Assistance Act PL 84-377
1956 - Health Research Facilities Act PL 84-835
1960 - Social Security Amendments (Kerr-Mill aid) PL 86-778
1961 - Community Health Services and Facilities Act PL 87-395
1962 - Public Health Service Act PL 87-838
1962 - Vaccination Assistance PL 87-868
1963 - Mental Retardation Facilities Construction Act/Community Mental Health Centers Act PL 88-164
1964 - Nurse Training Act PL 88-581
1965 - Community Health Services and Facilities Act PL 89-109
1965 - Medicare PL 89-97
1965 - Mental Health Centers Act Amendments PL 89-105
1965 - Heart Disease, Cancer, and Stroke Amendments PL 89-239
1966 - Comprehensive Health Planning and Service Act PL 89-749
1970 - Lead-Based Paint Poisoning Prevention Act PL 91-695
1970 - Community Mental Health Service Act PL 91-211
1971 - National Cancer Act PL 92-218
1974 - Research on Aging Act PL 93-296
1974 - National Health Planning and Resources Development Act PL 93-641
1979 - Department of Education Organization Act (Created HHS) PL 96-88
1987 - Department of Transportation Appropriations Act PL 100-202
1988 - Medicare Catastrophic Coverage Act PL 100-360
1989 - Department of Transportation and Related Agencies Appropriations Act PL 101-164
1996 - Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act

v • d • e United States Federal Executive Departments
Agriculture • Commerce • Defense • Education • Energy • Health and Human Services • Homeland Security • Housing and Urban Development • Interior • Justice • Labor • State • Transportation • Treasury • Veterans Affairs

Past departments: Commerce and Labor • Health, Education, and Welfare • Navy • Post Office • War