U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)

The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is the government’s principal agency for protecting the health of all those in the U.S. HHS invests in strategies to expand equitable access to comprehensive, community-based, innovative, and culturally- and linguistically-appropriate health care services while addressing social determinants of health. It is the largest federal department in terms of budget and funds domestic reproductive and maternal health programs, and sets rules for reproductive health coverage in federal programs such as contraceptive coverage under the Affordable Care Act.

Immediate Office of the Secretary

The Office of the Secretary is responsible for the operations and coordination of the work of the Secretary of Health and Human Services. It includes the Offices of the Deputy Secretary, Chief of Staff, and General Counsel.

Food and Drug Administration

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulates products such as drugs, biological products, and medical devices. FDA determines whether certain products can be sold in the marketplace and what restrictions should be placed on them; this includes birth control, medication abortion, fertility drugs, labor and delivery medications, and STI treatment.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is the nation’s leading science-based, data-driven service organization that protects the public’s health. CDC manages data collection from state and local health departments in an effort to better understand health trends, including voluntary reporting of abortion vital statistics.

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) provides health coverage to more than 160 million through Medicare, Medicaid, the Children’s Health Insurance Program, and the Health Insurance Marketplace. CMS administers the federal portion of the Medicaid program, which is the largest public payer of reproductive health services and provides health coverage for more than 16 million women of reproductive age. CMS also enforces health care laws like the Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act (EMTALA), which requires federally funded hospitals to treat pregnant people experiencing emergency complications.