The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) was established in 1953. It was created as part of the Reorganization Plan No. 1 of 1953, which reorganized and consolidated several federal agencies. Prior to this, the functions related to health and welfare were spread across various departments.
Key Historical Milestones:
- 1953: The HHS was officially created when it absorbed the functions of the Federal Security Agency, which included the Social Security Administration, public health services, and food safety programs.
- 1965: The creation of Medicare and Medicaid under President Lyndon B. Johnson, which became major programs under HHS.
- 1980s-1990s: HHS expanded its role in overseeing public health, food safety, and human services, including the establishment of SAMHSA and the development of the FDA’s role in regulating medical products.
As of 2024, HHS has been in operation for 71 years. Over this time, it has grown in size and scope, evolving into a critical component of the U.S. government in terms of public health, medical research, social services, and healthcare.
The mission of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is to enhance and protect the health and well-being of all Americans by providing effective health and human services and fostering advances in medicine, public health, and social services. The department's mission focuses on improving quality of life for citizens, especially those who are vulnerable, and ensuring the accessibility of essential health and social services.
The Key Aspects of HHS's Mission Include:
- Improving Health and Well-Being: Promoting healthier communities and improving the physical and mental health of individuals.
- Providing Health and Human Services: Ensuring access to health care for those in need through programs like Medicare, Medicaid, and the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP).
- Supporting Biomedical Research: Funding and conducting medical research aimed at improving public health, curing diseases, and developing new treatments.
- Promoting Public Health: Overseeing efforts to prevent disease outbreaks, control public health threats, and improve the overall health of the population.
- Ensuring Food and Drug Safety: Regulating and ensuring the safety of food, pharmaceuticals, vaccines, and medical devices.
- Caring for Vulnerable Populations: Providing services to protect and improve the lives of the elderly, children, individuals with disabilities, and those in poverty.
Through these efforts, HHS aims to improve the quality of life and reduce health disparities while working to provide a comprehensive range of health and human services across the United States.
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) operates with several strategic goals aimed at improving public health, providing essential services, and advancing health equity for all Americans. These strategic goals are designed to guide HHS's efforts across its diverse range of programs and initiatives.
The Strategic Goals of HHS are:
1. Strengthen Health and Public Health Systems
- Goal: Improve the quality, accessibility, and safety of health care, as well as the public health system’s response to emergencies.
- This includes improving access to care for underserved populations, enhancing the effectiveness of programs like Medicare and Medicaid, and building a more resilient public health system.
- Focus areas: Strengthening the health workforce. Improving health care quality and affordability. Advancing telehealth and digital health technologies.
2. Advance Scientific Knowledge and Innovation
- Goal: Support cutting-edge research, foster innovation, and promote scientific advancements to improve health outcomes.
- HHS prioritizes funding for biomedical research, medical technologies, and innovations in public health.
- Focus areas: Expanding research through institutions like the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Advancing precision medicine and the development of vaccines and treatments. Encouraging research for the prevention and treatment of chronic diseases and mental health conditions.
3. Advance Health Equity and Reduce Health Disparities
- Goal: Promote health equity by ensuring that every person, regardless of race, ethnicity, or socioeconomic status, has access to quality health care and social services.
- HHS works to eliminate health disparities, particularly among historically underserved groups like racial and ethnic minorities, people with disabilities, and those in rural areas.
- Focus areas: Reducing disparities in health outcomes and access to care. Expanding access to health services through the Affordable Care Act (ACA). Supporting initiatives for mental health, substance use disorders, and maternal health.
4. Promote Effective and Efficient Management and Stewardship
- Goal: Ensure that HHS is effectively managed, with efficient use of resources, and that its programs are operating optimally to meet their objectives.
- This involves strengthening internal management practices, improving financial operations, and ensuring that HHS programs are responsive to the needs of the public.
- Focus areas: Improving program management and accountability. Increasing transparency and data-driven decision-making. Enhancing cybersecurity and IT infrastructure.
5. Improve the Delivery of Human Services
- Goal: Enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of human services programs, especially those that support vulnerable populations, including children, families, seniors, and individuals with disabilities.
- HHS oversees a variety of human services programs, from child welfare to family assistance, as well as supporting long-term care for the elderly and individuals with disabilities.
- Focus areas: Strengthening child welfare programs. Expanding access to social safety net programs like Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) and Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). Enhancing services for seniors, including aging and disability services.
6. Ensure the Safety of Food, Drugs, and Other Consumer Products
- Goal: Safeguard the public’s health by ensuring that food, pharmaceuticals, medical devices, vaccines, and other consumer products are safe and effective.
- HHS regulates food and drug safety through agencies like the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and monitors the safety of consumer goods through other regulatory programs.
- Focus areas: Overseeing drug approvals, vaccines, and clinical trials. Ensuring food safety and food labeling. Protecting the public from unsafe or fraudulent medical products.
Through these strategic goals, HHS aims to address the evolving health needs of the American population, respond to public health emergencies, improve health outcomes, and foster an equitable and innovative health and human services system.
FY Year 2024 Budget can be accessed HERE
To reach out to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), you can contact them through various methods depending on the type of inquiry or issue you're addressing. Here are some options for getting in touch with HHS:
1. HHS Contact Information:
- General Inquiries (Main Contact): Phone: 1-877-696-6775 (HHS Information Line) Website: www.hhs.gov Mailing Address: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services 200 Independence Avenue, S.W. Washington, D.C. 20201
2. Specific Program/Agency Contact:
- HHS has numerous divisions and agencies that manage different aspects of health and human services. Depending on your need, you may want to contact a specific agency: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC): Contact CDC National Institutes of Health (NIH): Contact NIH Medicare: Contact Medicare Food and Drug Administration (FDA): Contact FDA Administration for Children and Families (ACF): Contact ACF
HHS offers forms for submitting questions or feedback online, depending on the type of inquiry you have:
- HHS Contact Form: Contact Form
If you have a specific question or need help with a particular service, visiting the respective agency's website or calling the general line will guide you to the appropriate contact or resources.
