Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS): Overview and Responsibilities

DHHS stands for Department of Health and Human Services. It is a federal executive department in the United States that is responsible for healthcare and welfare programs. The department was created in 1980, when the former Department of Health, Education, and Welfare was split into two separate departments: the Department of Education and the Department of Health and Human Services.

The DHHS is responsible for a wide range of programs and services, including:

* Medicare and Medicaid
* The Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP)
* The Affordable Care Act (ACA), also known as Obamacare
* The Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
* The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
* The National Institutes of Health (NIH)
* The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)
* The Social Security Administration (SSA)

The DHHS is headed by the Secretary of Health and Human Services, who is a member of the President's cabinet. The department has a large budget and a significant impact on the health and well-being of Americans.