The Department of Health and Human Services is the federal agency that protects public health and provides human services. It oversees health insurance programs, regulates food and drugs, funds medical research, and supports children, families, and older adults. Many of its programs are carried out with states, tribes, and local providers.
An independent team explaining how government works
On January 27, 2026, CMS delivered its answer for 2027: a 0.09 percent payment increase. Not 9 percent. Zero point zero nine. CMS faces a puzzle…
Wegovy and Zepbound have changed how doctors treat obesity. These drugs produce weight loss that rivals surgery: semaglutide delivers an average 14.9% body weight reduction, while…
The Medicare Annual Enrollment Period is the single most important time of year for millions of Americans who rely on Medicare for health coverage. Running from…
On October 15, 2025, fifteen governors announced the Governors Public Health Alliance, a coalition designed to coordinate public health policy across states. The Alliance positions itself…
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) tracks and prevents disease, the National Institutes of Health funds medical research, the Food and Drug Administration oversees food and medicines, the Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response plans for health emergencies, and the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality studies how to improve care.
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) runs health insurance programs, the Health Resources and Services Administration helps people reach care, and the Indian Health Service serves American Indians and Alaska Natives.
The Administration for Children and Families supports children and families, the Administration for Community Living supports older adults and people with disabilities, and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration addresses mental health and substance use.
The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, passed in 2010, represents one of the most significant reforms of the U.S. health system. Its primary…
A reader writes to us: Why does the government force the elderly who are already on a fixed budget to pay for a Medicare…
A leaked government report suggesting links between Tylenol use during pregnancy and autism sent shockwaves through Wall Street and the medical community. The Department…
Clinical trials power medical progress. They are carefully regulated research studies involving human volunteers that determine whether new ways to prevent, detect, or treat…
CDC vaccine guidance, doctors’ advice and insurance rules can differ. Federal approval, medical recommendations and state requirements have distinct roles.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is America's premier public health agency, protecting the nation from health threats both foreign and domestic. Since…
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services is the federal government's primary agency for protecting public health and providing essential human services. The…
When the U.S. government confronts a major health threat—from a fast-moving pandemic like COVID-19 to a slow-burning crisis like the opioid epidemic—it can declare…
In American governance, specific words chosen for laws and regulations determine how federal agencies operate, how billions of dollars are spent, and how millions…
Four substances have defined America's decades-long opioid epidemic: the prescription medications fentanyl, OxyContin, and Vicodin, plus the illegal drug heroin. Each has played a…
