## Overview The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is a cabinet-level executive branch department of the U.S. federal government, established to protect the health and well-being of all Americans and to provide essential human services, particularly for those most in need[1][2][4]. With a mission to “enhance the health and well-being of all Americans,” HHS is the principal agency responsible for public health, biomedical research, and the administration of major social welfare programs[1][9]. ## What HHS Does HHS oversees a vast array of programs and services, including direct health care provision, health insurance (Medicare, Medicaid, Children’s Health Insurance Program), public health research, disease prevention, food and drug safety, and emergency preparedness[1][2][5]. The department also funds and supports maternal and child health, early childhood development, substance abuse and mental health services, social services for low-income families, and comprehensive health services for Native Americans[2][7]. HHS works closely with state and local governments, as well as private sector partners, to deliver many of these services[2][3]. ## History HHS traces its origins to the Department of Health, Education, and Welfare (HEW), established in 1953. When the Department of Education was created in 1979, HEW was reorganized into HHS, focusing exclusively on health and human services[1][4]. The department has since evolved to address emerging public health challenges, from the HIV/AIDS epidemic to the COVID-19 pandemic[5]. ## Key Achievements - **Medicare and Medicaid:** HHS administers these programs, which provide health insurance to millions of elderly, disabled, and low-income Americans, making it the nation’s largest health insurer[1][2][6]. - **Public Health Leadership:** HHS agencies like the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), National Institutes of Health (NIH), and Food and