Department of Health and Human Services

What Visitors Should Know

Learn how the Department of Health and Human Services works, what public-facing services, records, or data it provides, and where visitors can verify official source links.

The Department of Health and Human Services oversees major federal health and human-services programs, including public health, Medicare and Medicaid policy, biomedical research, food and drug safety, family and child services, and behavioral health programs. This profile explains the agency in practical terms: what it is responsible for, how people may encounter it, and which public-facing records or services matter most.

Visitors may use HHS sources for public-health guidance, Medicare or Medicaid program information, food and drug safety alerts, health research, family assistance, civil rights in health care, and grants. Use HHS.gov, CDC, FDA, CMS, NIH, ACF, SAMHSA, HRSA, Federal Register notices, grants, and program portals to verify current health guidance, eligibility rules, data, and official records. When legal precision, benefits, applications, deadlines, or compliance rules matter, use those official sources before relying on a summary.

What Health and Human Services Does

The Department of Health and Human Services oversees major federal health and human-services programs, including public health, Medicare and Medicaid policy, biomedical research, food and drug safety, family and child services, and behavioral health programs. Visitors may use HHS sources for public-health guidance, Medicare or Medicaid program information, food and drug safety alerts, health research, family assistance, civil rights in health care, and grants. Use official source links for current forms, deadlines, eligibility rules, data, legal notices, public records, and contact channels.

Public SafetyFind public-health guidance, disease information, and health alerts.

Official InformationReview Medicare, Medicaid, CHIP, Marketplace, and health coverage resources.

Benefits and AssistanceUse FDA, NIH, family services, behavioral health, and grants information.

Data and RecordsVerify current rules, program guidance, civil-rights information, and source data.

How It Fits In Government

Executive DepartmentDepartment of Health and Human Services is a Cabinet-level executive department. Its leader is nominated by the President, usually confirmed by the Senate, and responsible for carrying out laws in a major policy area.

Public AccountabilityIts work may appear through official notices, regulations, reports, data systems, service portals, hearings, inspections, grants, enforcement actions, or public contact channels.

Where To VerifyUse the official agency website first for current forms, deadlines, leadership, program rules, contact information, and legal notices.

Major Bureaus and Operating Components

Centers for Disease Control and PreventionCenters for Disease Control and Prevention provides public-health guidance, disease surveillance, outbreak information, health data, vaccination recommendations, travel health resources, laboratory support, and emergency health information. Visitors may use CDC sources for health alerts, disease information, vaccination guidance, travel health notices,…Centers for Medicare & Medicaid ServicesCenters for Medicare & Medicaid Services administers Medicare, Medicaid, CHIP, Marketplace standards, health-care payment systems, quality reporting, provider data, coverage guidance, and program oversight with states and health-care partners. Visitors may use CMS sources to compare Medicare options, understand Medicaid or CHIP policy, find provider…Food and Drug AdministrationFood and Drug Administration protects public health by regulating drugs, biologics, medical devices, food safety, cosmetics, tobacco products, veterinary products, recalls, approvals, labeling, inspections, and safety alerts. Visitors may use FDA sources to check recalls, report product problems, review drug or device approvals, understand food safety,…Health Resources and Services AdministrationHealth Resources and Services Administration supports access to health care through community health centers, health workforce programs, maternal and child health efforts, rural health programs, HIV/AIDS programs, organ donation systems, and grants. Visitors may use HRSA sources to find health centers, review grant programs, locate workforce scholarship…National Institutes of HealthNational Institutes of Health supports and conducts biomedical and public-health research through institutes and centers, clinical studies, grants, health information, research training, and public scientific data resources. Visitors may use NIH sources to find health information, clinical trials, research grants, scientific publications, institute…Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services AdministrationSubstance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration supports behavioral health through substance use and mental health grants, treatment and crisis resources, data, prevention programs, recovery support, technical assistance, and national helplines. Visitors may use SAMHSA sources to find treatment locators, crisis and helpline resources, grant…

Public Service Guide

How visitors may use Health and Human Services

This profile is designed to help visitors find practical government services, not just describe the agency in the abstract. Start with the official sources below, then use related public service links when a specific form, record, benefit, complaint, data tool, or office is needed.

Public Services Visitors May Need

MedicareOpen official source HealthCare.govOpen official source Grants and contractsOpen official source Health and Human Services official websiteOpen official source Federal Register documentsOpen official source Regulations.gov searchOpen official source USAspending searchOpen official source FOIA.gov agency searchOpen official source

Budget, Records, and Public Accountability

Agency work can also show up in official records: rules, notices, spending data, public comments, reports, grants, enforcement actions, or Act, the federal law that lets the public request many agency records.">FOIA/public-record systems. Use these sources to move from a plain-English profile to the official record trail.

Federal Register documentsSearch official notices, rules, proposed rules, and presidential or agency documents.Regulations.gov docketsFind rulemaking dockets, supporting materials, and public comment opportunities.USAspending searchSearch federal awards, grants, contracts, loans, and spending records.FOIA.gov agency searchFind public-record request routes and FOIA contact information.

Learn More

Official records and updatesLook for current announcements, notices, rulemaking, public data, forms, and contact information directly from official sources.

Related servicesMany agency services connect to benefits, taxes, passports, safety, records, grants, complaints, inspections, research, or public information requests.

When to use this profileUse this page to understand what the agency does, then follow official links for applications, deadlines, eligibility rules, data, and legal text.