Department of Health and Human Services

Amie R. Scheidegger

The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) was established in 1980 to protect the health of all Americans and provide health-related services to the public. By 2003, HHS was the largest grant-making agency in the federal government, representing the nation's largest health insurance program (Medicare) and overseeing more than 300 federally funded health- and service-related programs. HHS's budget for 2003 was reported to be $502 billion, the majority of which ($413 billion) was devoted to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). This division of HHS is responsible for administering Medicare and Medicaid programs, which provide health insurance for elderly and disabled persons (Medicare) and works with state agencies to provide medical services and health insurance for low-income citizens of all ages (Medicaid). Part of administering these programs includes investigating fraudulent practices associated with Medicare and Medicaid. In 2002, the government was awarded $1.6 billion in judgments and ...

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