Regulatory Agency Paper

University of Phoenix

HCS 430 Legal Issues in Healthcare:
Regulation and Compliance

June 8, 2008
The Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) is one of the many agencies that handle an array of healthcare departments as well as research. The DHHS caters to citizens of all nationalities, race, and ethnicities. The DHHS focus is to protect the health of all Americans and providing the highest level of human services, especially for those who are least able to help themselves. The Public Health Service is divided into 42 subdivisions (Department of Health and Human Services, 2007). This paper will give highlights of the history of the DHHS, the source and scope of authority, how the day-to-day …show more content…

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services administers Medicare and Medicaid. The Social Security Administration, formerly part of the department, became an independent agency in 1995. The Administration on Aging develops policy and programs to promote the welfare of older Americans and administers grants to states to establish community programs. The Indian Health Service (IHS) provides health services to 1.8 million American Indians and Alaska Natives of more than 560 federally recognized tribes. The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) provide access to healthcare services for people who are low-income, uninsured or who live in rural areas or urban neighborhoods where healthcare is scarce. Other agencies within DHHS are the Administration for Children and Families (ACF) that is responsible for 60 programs that promote the economic and social well-being of children, families and communities; .state-federal welfare program; temporary assistance for needy families; the national child support enforcement system, that collected nearly $24 billion in FY 2006 in payments from non-custodial parents, provides funds to assist low-income families in paying for child care, and prevention of child abuse and domestic violence. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) is responsible for the Medicare and Medicaid programs, which provide healthcare to almost one in every three