Responsibilities and Authority of the Health and Human Services Department
The Health and Human Services Department is one of the President's cabinet positions and has the responsibility of protecting the health of all Americans and providing human services. In these times with the proposals for health care reform in Congress it is necessary to understand the department responsibilities and authority. The current motto of the department is: "Improving the health, safety and well-being of America". This signifies critical areas of responsibility. We have had many individuals in this cabinet department but the current environment with healthcare is one which is critical to get it right for all Americans. The proposals before Congress are ones which will change the face of the healthcare industry and will affect every American as to the details that become law. The purpose of this article is not to discuss the current healthcare proposals but to bring about an understanding of the responsibilities this department and how they are accomplished.
To begin with the responsibilities of this department are not ones to be taken lightly by anyone who holds the position of Secretary of Health and Human Services or anyone who works for the department. I am not implying that this department is any more or less important than others that exist in the President's cabinet. The current laws under the jurisdiction of the department are many and if they are not enforced it can affect the healthcare every American receives. Below is a list of some of the laws for which this department is responsible but may not be all inclusive. When researching this article I found there are many aspects of which I did not realize came under this department responsibility.
To begin with it is important to identify the agencies for which the department has jurisdiction and the list may not be complete. It signifies the wide range of important topics which the department must address. The department includes over 300 programs which it must manage and enforce. Enforcement includes establishing any regulations and/or rules for employees to understand their responsibilities in accomplishing their duties. The list provided below show highlights of programs for which the department has jurisdiction.
Health and social science research
Preventing disease, including immunization services
Assuring food and drug safety
Medicare (health insurance for elderly and disabled Americans) and Medicaid (health insurance for low-income people).
Health information technology
Financial assistance and services for low-income families
Improving maternal and infant health
Head Start (pre-school education and services)
Faith-based and community initiatives
Preventing child abuse and domestic violence
Substance abuse treatment and prevention
Services for older Americans, including home-delivered meals
Comprehensive health services for Native Americans
Medical preparedness for emergencies, including potential terrorism
Another interesting fact is the number of agencies which is part of the department responsibilities. The list below provides some insight into the broad topics for which the department must address as part of their operations. Each function addresses the health of most if not all Americans. A brief description of the agencies and their responsibilities provide some focus of the importance of the Department of Health and Human Services cabinet position.
Office of the Secretary.
Administration for Children and Families - This department is responsible for federal programs that promote the economic and social well-being of families, children, individuals, and communities. For further information the programs aims can be found at the following linkhttp://www.acf.hhs.gov/acf_about.html#mission
Administration on Aging
The mission is to help elderly individuals maintain their dignity and independence in their homes and communities through comprehensive, coordinated, and cost effective systems of long-term care, and livable communities across the U.S.
Agency for Healthcare Research & Quality
The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality's (AHRQ) mission is to improve the quality, safety, efficiency, and effectiveness of health care for all Americans. Information from AHRQ's research helps people make more informed decisions and improve the quality of health care services
Agency for Toxic Substances & Disease Registry
ATSDR is directed bycongressional mandateto perform specific functions concerning the effect on public health of hazardous substances in the environment. These functions include public health assessments of waste sites, health consultations concerning specific hazardous substances, health surveillance and registries, response to emergency releases of hazardous substances, applied research in support of public health assessments, information development and dissemination, and education and training concerning hazardous substances.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
The official mission and function statements for the organizational components of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) are provided below. In addition, official organizational charts for those organizational components that contain substructure are also provided.
Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
The federal agency responsible for administering theMedicare,Medicaid,CHIP(Children's Health Insurance),HIPAA(Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act),CLIA(Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments), and several other health-related programs.
Food and Drug Administration
It ensures the safety of all food except for meat, poultry and some egg products; ensures the safety and effectiveness of all drugs, biological products (including blood, vaccines and tissues for transplantation), medical devices, and animal drugs and feed; and makes sure that cosmetics and medical and consumer products that emit radiation do no harm.
Health Resources & Services Administration
HRSA provides national leadership, program resources and services needed to improve access to culturally competent, quality health care.
Indian Health Service
To raise the physical, mental, social, and spiritual health of American Indians and Alaska Natives to the highest level.
National Institutes of Health
The primary Federal agency for conducting and supporting medical research.
Office of Inspector General
The mission of the Office of Inspector General (OIG), as mandated by Public Law 95-452 (as amended), is to protect the integrity of Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) programs, as well as the health and welfare of the beneficiaries of those programs.
OIG has a responsibility to report both to the Secretary and to the Congress program and management problems and recommendations to correct them. OIG's duties are carried out through a nationwide network of audits, investigations, evaluations and other mission-related functions performed by OIG components.
Substance Abuse & Mental Health Services Administration
The Agency has sharply focused its mission on building resilience and facilitating recovery for people with or at risk for mental or substance use disorders. SAMHSA is gearing all of its resources - programs, policies and grants - toward that outcome.
There are about thirteen offices and 10 districts for which this position has jurisdiction. How these are handled and managed can and does affect every American. As with other cabinet departments there must be interaction between the Health and Human Services Department and others that are impacted by the decisions made. This department also interacts with local and state agencies and in some cases grants are awarded to provide services to their local or state areas.
The information in this article was meant to bring about a better understanding of the responsibilities of this department. As discussed and presented above the readers of this article can see the wide responsibilities for which this department is responsible. I have a high respect for the mission of the Health and Human Services department and accomplishing the objective is not an easy task. The upcoming healthcare reform legislation will increase the workload of the department and it is hoped that additional resources will be provided to address the new requirements. Several if not all of the agencies identified above will be impacted by what evolves as the healthcare reform legislation. The department must understand the details of the legislation so it can work to achieve them. Therefore it is hoped that any legislation associated with healthcare reform is written so that not only the department understands them but the public as well.
It is important that all Americans understand any legislation enacted by Congress whether it is healthcare or any other topic. The reason for this statement is that we as citizens of our country must not only understand current laws but those enacted each year. It is in this way that we can work to assure that we do not violate them. If we are not satisfied with any legislation that is enacted we have the right to work to change them. This has been done in various states through efforts of their citizens.
