Common Health Care Acronyms
This list is meant only to help increase general understanding of commonly used health care terms. It is not a complete or official list, and is included here to aid in general understanding only.
To find the definition of a term, click below on the first letter of the desired word.
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
A
| AAPCC |
Adjusted Average Per Capita Cost |
| ACD |
Automatic call distributor |
| ACF |
Ambulatory care facility |
| ACR |
Adjusted community rating |
| AFDC/ADC |
Aid to Families with Dependent Children |
| AIDS |
Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome |
| ALOS |
Average Length of Stay |
| APG |
Ambulatory Payment Classification |
| APG |
Ambulatory Patient Group |
| ASC |
Administrative Services Contract or Ambulatory Surgical Center |
| ASO |
Administrative services only (generally refers to contracts) |
B
| BBA |
Balanced Budget Act of 1997 |
| BSN |
Bachelor of Science in Nursing |
C
| CAH |
Critical Access Hospital |
| CAP |
Contract Administration Process |
| CBO |
Congressional Budget Office |
| CCU |
Critical Care Unit |
| CDC |
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention |
| CCPs |
Coordinated care plans |
| CEO |
Chief executive officer |
| CHE |
Certified Healthcare Executive |
| CHIN |
Community Health Information Network |
| COA |
Certificate of authority |
| COB |
Coordination of Benefits |
| COBRA |
Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act |
| CON |
Certificate of Need |
| COP |
Conditions of Participation |
| CPI |
Consumer Price Index |
| CRC |
Community rating by class |
| CTI |
Computer/telephony integration |
D
D
| DCH |
Department of Community Health |
| DHHS |
Department of Health and Human Services |
| DME |
Durable Medical Equipment |
| DNR |
Do-Not-Resuscitate |
| DO |
Doctor of Osteopathy |
| DSH |
Disproportionate Share Hospital |
| DPOS |
Dental point of service option |
| DPPO |
Dental preferred provider organization |
| DHMO |
Dental health maintenance organization |
| DSS |
Decision support system |
| DUR |
Drug utilization review |
E
| EDI |
electronic data interchange |
| EMR |
electronic medical record |
| EMS |
Emergency Medical Services |
| EMT |
Emergency Medical Technician |
| EPA |
Environmental Protection Agency |
| ER |
Emergency Room |
| ERISA |
Employee Retirement Income Security Act |
| EPO |
Exclusive provider organization |
| EPSDT |
Early and periodic screening, diagnostic, and treatment services |
F
| FDA |
Food and Drug Administration |
| FFS |
Fee-for-service payment system |
| FEHBP |
Federal Employee Health Benefits Program |
| FQHC |
Federally Qualified Health Center |
| FTC |
Federal Trade Commission |
| FY |
Fiscal Year |
G
| GLB Act |
Financial Services Modernization Act (Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act) |
| GME |
Graduate Medical Education |
| GP |
General Practitioner |
| GPWW |
Group practice without walls |
H
| HCFA |
Health Care Financing Administration |
| HCQIA |
Health Care Quality Improvement Act |
| HCQIP |
Health Care Quality Improvement Program |
| HHA |
Home Health Agency |
| HHS |
Health and Human Services, U.S. Department of |
| HIN |
Health information network |
| HIO |
Health insuring organization |
| HIPAA |
Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 |
| HIV |
Human Immunodeficiency Virus |
| HMO |
Health maintenance organization |
| HPMS |
Health Plan Management System |
| HRA |
Health risk assessment |
I
| IBNR |
Incurred but not reported claims |
| ICU |
Intensive Care Unit |
| IDS |
Integrated delivery system |
| IPA |
Independent practice association |
| IVR |
Interactive voice response system |
J
| JCAHO |
Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations |
| JOA |
Joint Operating Agreement |
K
L
| LOS |
Length of stay |
| LPN |
Licensed Practical Nurse |
| LTAC |
Long-Term Acute-Care Hospital |
| LTC |
Long-Term Care |
| LTCF |
Long-Term Care Facility |
M
| MCO |
Managed care organization |
| MD |
Doctor of Medicine |
| MedPAC |
Medicare Payment Advisory Commission |
| MHS |
Military Health System |
| MIS |
Management Information System |
| MSA |
Medicare medical savings account plans |
| MSN |
Master of Science in Nursing |
| MSO |
Management Services Organization |
| MSW |
Master of Social Work |
| MTFs |
Military treatment facilities |
N
| NCQA |
National Committee for Quality Assurance |
| NIH |
National Institutes of Health |
| NMHPA |
Newborns' and Mothers' Health Protection Act |
| NPDB |
National Practitioner Data Bank |
O
| OB-GYN |
Obstetrics-Gynecology |
| OMB |
Office of Management and Budget |
| OPPS |
Outpatient Prospective Payment System |
| OR |
Operating Room |
| OSHA |
Occupational Safety and Health Administration |
| OT |
Occupational Therapist |
P
| P&T |
Pharmacy and therapeutics |
| PA |
Physician Assistant |
| PACE |
Programs of All-inclusive Care for the Elderly |
| PBM |
Pharmacy benefit management plan |
| PCCM |
Primary care case manager |
| PCP |
Primary care provider |
| PFFS |
Private fee-for-service plans |
| PAC |
Political Action Committee |
| PHA |
Participating Hospital Agreement |
| PHO |
Physician-hospital organization |
| PMC |
Physician Management Company |
| PO |
Physician Organization |
| POS |
Point-of-service |
| PPA |
Preferred provider arrangement |
| PPM |
Physician Practice Management Company |
| PPO |
Preferred provider organization |
| PPS |
Prospective Payment System |
| PRO |
Peer review organization |
| PSN |
Provider Sponsored Network |
| PSO |
Provider Service Organization |
| PT |
Physical Therapist |
Q
| QA |
Quality Assessment or Quality Assurance |
| QHP |
Quality Health Plan |
| QISMC |
Quality Improvement System for Managed Care |
| QM |
Quality management |
R
| RBRVS |
Resource-Based Relative Value Scale |
| RHC |
Rural Health Clinic |
| RN |
Registered Nurse |
| RVS |
Relative value scale |
S
| SCHIP |
State Children's Health Insurance Program |
| SNF |
Skilled Nursing Facility |
T
| TPA |
Third party administrator |
| TQM |
Total Quality Management |
U
V
| UCR |
Usual, customary, and reasonable fee |
| UM |
Utilization management |
| UR |
Utilization review |
| URO |
Utilization review organization |
W
| WC |
Workers’ Compensation |
| WHCRA |
Women's Health and Cancer Rights Act |
| WHO |
World Health Organization |