Library Guides: HED 320 The U.S. Health Care System: Federal Government Sources

Federal Government Sources

The links below will connect you with some of the major healthcare-related resources in the national government of the United States. Several of the links below will allow you to navigate to many other resources; for instance the Department of Health and Human Services connects to many of the other links listed on this page. All of the links have something to offer our understanding of assessing, formulating policies and programs, and assuring timely and effective access to healthcare in the United States.

Healthcare.gov was created to implement the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, also known as "Obamacare".

Centers for Medicare and Medicaid is the most concentrated source of information about those two government approaches to financing healthcare in the United States.

The Agency of Healthcare Research and Quality is a great source of knowledge about healthcare in the US including what works or fails to work with comparative assessments of our states and different population segments.

Quasi-governmental Initiatives

The following national sources received initial or continuing funding from Congress, but are governed independently.

Patient Centered Outcomes Research Institute
Created by the 2010 Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act receiving initial funding from the Treasury and ongoing funding as 80% of a tax on health insurance plans.
National Academies
The National Academy of Sciences was established in 1863 by an Act of Congress, signed by President Lincoln, as a private, nongovernmental institution to advise the nation on issues related to science and technology. Members are elected by their peers for outstanding contributions to research. Dr. Marcia McNutt is president.

The National Academy of Engineering was established in 1964 under the charter of the National Academy of Sciences to bring the practices of engineering to advising the nation. Members are elected by their peers for extraordinary contributions to engineering. Dr. C. D. Mote, Jr., is president.

The National Academy of Medicine (formerly the Institute of Medicine) was established in 1970 under the charter of the National Academy of Sciences to advise the nation on medical and health issues. Members are elected by their peers for distinguished contributions to medicine and health. Dr. Victor J. Dzau is president.

The three Academies work together as the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine to provide independent, objective analysis and advice to the nation and conduct other activities to solve complex problems and inform public policy decisions. The National Academies also encourage education and research, recognize outstanding contributions to knowledge, and increase public understanding in matters of science, engineering, and medicine.