Clinics funded under Sections 329 (Migrant Health Centers), 330 (Community Health Centers) and 340 (Homeless Health Centers) of the U.S. Public Health Service Act.
Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care (“Triple A H C”, one of three programs offering PCMH recognition or accreditation)
AACN
American Association of Critical Care Nurses or American Association of Colleges of Nursing
AACOM
Association of American Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine
AAEP
American Academy of Emergency Psychiatry
AAFP
American Academy of Family Physicians
AAMC
Association of American Medical Colleges
AANP
American Academy of Nurse Practitioners
AAP
American Academy of Pediatrics
AAPA
American Academy of Physician Assistants
AAPCHO
Association of Asian Pacific Community Health Organizations
AAPD
American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry
ACA
Affordable Care Act
ACEP
American College of Emergency Physicians
ACF
Administration for Children and Families (HHS)
ACHI
Association for Community Health Improvement
ACL
Administration for Community Living (HHS)
ACO
Accountable Care Organization – An umbrella organization that combines primary care physicians, specialists, and hospitals in an attempt to coordinate care and reduce unnecessary costs.
ACOG
American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists
Actual Charge
The amount a physician or other practitioner actually bills a patient for a particular medical service or procedure. This may differ from the customary, prevailing and/or reasonable charge as recognized by Medicare and other insurance programs.
ACU
Association of Clinicians for the Underserved
ADA
Americans with Disabilities Act (U.S. Department of Labor); also American Dental Association, American Diabetes Association, American Dietetic Association.
AHEC
Area Health Education Center
AHNA
American Holistic Nurses Association
AHRQ
Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (HHS) – Conducts and supports research, demonstration projects, evaluations, training, guideline development, and the dissemination of information on health care services and on systems for the delivery of such services.
AMA
American Medical Association
AMCHP
Association of Maternal and Child Health Programs
AMSA
American Medical Student Association
ANA
American Nurses Association
ANSI
American National Standards Institute
AoA
Administration on Aging (HHS)
AOA
American Osteopathic Association
AP
Accounts Payable
APhA
American Pharmacists Association
APHA
American Public Health Association
AR
Accounts Recievable
ARRA
American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009
ARTS
Aroostook Regional Transportation Service
ASFR
Office of the Assistant Secretary for Financial Resources (HHS)
ASG
Assistant Surgeon General
ASH
Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health (HHS)
ASHP
American Society of Health-System Pharmacists
ASL
Office of the Assistant Secretary for Legislation (HHS), or American Sign Language
ASPA
Office of the Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs (HHS)
ASPE
Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation (HHS)
ASPR
Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response (HHS)
Assignment of Benefits
An agreement in which a patient assigns to another party, usually the provider of the service, the right to receive payment from a third party for the service the patient has received. In Medicare, if a physician agrees to accept assignment, s/he must agree to accept the program payment as payment in full (except for coinsurance, co-payment and deductible amount required of the patient).
ASTHO
Association of State and Territorial Health Officials
ATSDR
Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (HHS)
Bureau of Health Care Delivery and Assistance Common Reporting Requirements – A uniform set of tables, data elements and definitions pertaining to the operational, financial and administrative management of the program, which programs were required to complete annually prior to 1996.
BHW
Bureau of Health Workforce (HRSA) – Helps America build a health workforce prepared and eager to improve the public health by expanding access to quality health services and working to achieve health equity.
BOD
Board of Directors
BPHC
Bureau of Primary Health Care (BPHC) – Provides national leadership in assessing the Nation’s health care needs of underserved populations and in assisting communities to provide primary health care services to the underserved in moving toward eliminating health disparities. A major program component is the Consolidated Health Center Program.
Commissioned Corps – The PHS Commissioned Corps is one of the seven uniformed services of the United States.
CCPM
Community Care Partnership of Maine
CD
Capital Development
CDC
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention – Responsible for disease prevention and control, environmental health, health education, and many other activities.
CEHRT
Certified Electronic Health Record Technology – As certified by the ONC.
CEO
Chief Executive Officer
CEU
Continuing Education Unit
CFBNP
Center for Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships (HHS)
CFO
Chief Financial Officer
CFR
Code of Federal Regulations
CHAMPS
Community Health Center and Academic Medical Partnerships
CHC
Community Health Center – A community-based health care facility that provides prevention-oriented primary care services in medically underserved areas. Grant support is received from the federal government under Section 330 of the U.S. Public Health Service Act (sometimes these centers are referred to as “330s”).
CHCnet
Community Health Center Controlled Network
CHIP
Children’s Health Insurance Program
CHPFS
Community Health Partners for Sustainability
CIHS
Center for Integrated Health Solutions (SAMHSA/HRSA)
CIO
Chief Information Officer
CIP
Capital Improvement Project
CIP
Capital Improvement Program – A category of HRSA ARRA grants which may be awarded through the Consolidated Health Center Program
CIS
Change in Scope
CLIA
Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendment
Clinical Measures Workbook
A federally-developed document delineating mandated (primarily health promotion and disease prevention) services to be delivered to groups of individuals, as defined by Lifecycles. CHAMPS has a copy available in its Resource Library for members to borrow.
Clinical Network
Network of clinicians working in community, homeless and migrant health centers, often affiliated with a state, regional and/or national association.
CME
Continuing Medical Education
CMHC
Community Mental Health Center
CMS
Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, previously called Health Care Financing Administration (HHS)
CNM
Certified Nurse Midwife
Co-insurance
Under a health insurance policy, a cost-sharing requirement which provides that the insured will assume a portion or percentage of the costs of covered services. The health insurance policy provides that the insurer will reimburse a specified percentage (usually 80%) of all, or certain specified covered medical expenses in excess of any deductible amounts payable by the insured. The insured is then liable for the remaining percentage of the costs, until the maximum amount payable under the insurance policy, if any, is reached.
Co-payment
A term describing patient financial responsibility under a plan wherein the insured pays a specified flat amount per unit of service, e.g., $2/visit, with the insurer paying the balance of the approved cost. The co-payment is incurred at the time the service is rendered. The amount paid does not vary with the cost of the service (usually does vary with the type of service), unlike coinsurance which is based upon a percentage of the cost.
COB
Coordination of Benefits
Compliance Manual
The Health Center Program Compliance Manual; a HRSA/BPHC resource to assist health centers in understanding and demonstrating compliance with Health Center Program and Federal Torts Claims Act (FTCA) program requirements.
COPC
Community Oriented Primary Care – A combined primary care and public health approach to identifying and meeting the health needs of a community.
Cost-Based Reimbursement
A method of payment, different from fee-for-service, delivered to patients. In cost-related reimbursement systems, the amount of the payment is based on the cost to the provider of delivering the service. The actual payment may be based on any of several different formulae, such as full cost, full cost plus an additional percentage, allowable costs, or a fraction of costs. Examples of cost-based reimbursement systems include the Rural Health Clinics Act (RHCA), the Federally Funded Health Center Act (FFHC), and the Federally Qualified Health Center Act (FQHC).
CP
Co-Pay
CPAB
Clinical and Professional Activities Branch
CPE
Continuing Professional Education
CPT
Current Procedural Terminology
CQI
Continuous Quality Improvement – A methodology, which, when properly implemented, insures a constant elevation in the level of services being provided.
CQM
Clinical Quality Measures – A component of the CMS EHR Incentive Program (Meaningful Use), includes tools to measure or quantify healthcare processes, outcomes, patient perceptions, and organizational structure and/or systems associated with providing high-quality health care and/or related to one or more quality goals for health care.
Connection from Patten to all remote sites that move data.
DDS
Doctor of Dental Surgery
DECH
Downeast Community Hospital
Deductible
The expense that an insured party must incur before an insurer will assume any liability for all or part of the remaining cost of covered services.
DFI
Division of Financial Integrity (HRSA)
DGMO
Division of Grants Management Operations (HRSA)
DHHS
Department of Health and Human Services – DHHS is a cabinet level department, responsible for ACF, AHQR, AoA, ASTDR, CDC, CMS, FDA, HRSA, IHS, NIH, PSC, and SAMHSA.
DMD
Doctor of Dental Medicine (Dentariae Medicinae Doctor)
DO
Doctor of Osteopathy
DOB
Date of Birth
DOS
Date of Service
DrPH
Doctor of Public Health
DSLR
Division of Scholarships and Loan Repayment – DSLR is responsible for the administrative aspects of the NHSC Scholarship Program and Loan Repayment Program.
Food and Drug Administration (HHS) – Oversees the safety and inspection of foods, drugs, medical devices and cosmetics.
FFR
Federal Financial Report
FIP
Facility Investment Program awards
FJ
Farmworker Justice
FLEX
Medicare Rural Hospital Flexibility Grant Program
FLRP
Faculty Loan Repayment Program
FLSA
Fair Labor Standards Act (U.S. Department of Labor)
FMLA
Family Medical Leave Act (U.S. Department of Labor)
FNP
Family Nurse Practitioner
FO
Field Office – The federal office, located in one of ten regions in the country, having primary responsibility for National Health Service Corps assignees, community health centers, migrant health centers, homeless health centers, clinical networks, state primary care associations, regional primary care associations and other grant-funded activities.
FOA
Funding Opportunity Announcement
FORHP
Federal Office of Rural Health Policy (HRSA)
Form 5A
UDS Form 5A (Services)
Form 5B
UDS Form 5B (Sites)
Form 5C
UDS Form 5C (Other Activities)
FP
Family Planning or Family Physician
FPL
Federal Poverty Level
FQHC
Federally-Qualified Health Centers – Those centers that receive cost-based reimbursement for services delivered to patients who qualify for Medicaid or for Medicare. In order to qualify, a clinic must receive federal funds or meet other criteria.
FQHC LA
Federally-Qualified Health Center Look-Alike; see also LAL
FRP
Financial Recovery Plan
FSR
Financial Status Report
FTCA
Federal Tort Claims Act – The provision in law under which federal employees (or other named parties) receive their professional liability coverage from the US government; available to NHSC providers, and providers who work in 329, 330, and 340 programs.
General Services Administration – This is essentially the procurement agency for the government. Anything you want purchased must be approved by this agency first.
HIV/AIDS Bureau (HRSA) – Administers the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program for people living with or affected by HIV/AIDS who do not have sufficient health care coverage or financial resources for coping with the disease.
HC
Health Center; see also CHC and FQHC
HCCN
Health Center Controlled Networks – HCCNs improve operational effectiveness and clinical quality in health centers by providing management, financial, technology and clinical support services. The networks are controlled by and operate on behalf of HRSA-supported health centers. Each network comprises at least three collaborating organizations.
HCH
Healthcare for the Homeless/Homeless Health Center – A health care entity that provides care to the homeless, funded under Section 340 of the US Public Health Service Act. (Sometimes referred to as “340s”.)
HCQR
Health Center Quarterly Report (ARRA)
HDC
Health Disparities Collaboratives
Health Care Plans
Written plans, developed by clinicians, which respond to the health promotion/disease prevention needs (Clinical Outcome Measures) of the Lifecycles.
HHS
(U.S. Department of) Health and Human Services; see also DHHS
HIE
Health Information Exchange – HIE is defined as the mobilization of healthcare information electronically across organizations within a region, community or healthcare system. HIE provides the capability to electronically move clinical information among disparate health care information systems while maintaining the meaning of the information being exchanged. The goal of HIE is to facilitate access to and retrieval of clinical data to provide safer, more timely, efficient, effective, equitable, patient-centered care.
HIN
Health Info Net
HIPAA
Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act
HIT
Health Information Technology
HMO
Health Maintenance Organization
HOP
Health Outreach Partners
HP/DP
Health promotion/disease prevention (referred to as “hip-dip”).
HPOL
HPSA Placement Opportunity List – A prioritized list of Health Professional Shortage Area sites eligible for NHSC assistance to insure the equitable distribution of NHSC providers to needy areas.
HPSA
Health Professional Shortage Area – A region of the country, or a defined population group; where, through the utilization of specific criteria, a deficiency of medical, dental, and/or mental health services has been identified; graded on four levels: I, II, III, and IV.
HRSA
Health Resources and Services Administration (HHS) –The primary federal agency for improving health care to people who are geographically isolated, economically or medically vulnerable.
HSB
Healthcare Systems Bureau (HRSA) –Protects the public health and improves the health of individuals through programs providing national leadership and direction in targeted areas including organ donation/transplantation, cell transplantation, poison control, 340B drug pricing, injury compensation, and Hansen’s disease (leprosy).
HTN
Healthcare Technology Network – Organized by CCHN; promotes networking and best practice sharing among Colorado CHCs’ IT Directors and provides guidance for CACHIE projects.
HVA
Hazard Vulnerability Assessment (Tool)
HWC
Health Workforce Connector – Online job bank operated by HRSA to connect NHSC and NURSE Corps scholarship and loan repayment recipients with careers in HPSAs.
Increased Demand for Services – A category of HRSA ARRA grants which may be awarded through the Consolidated Health Center Program
IFCHC
International Federation of Community Health Centres
IHI
Institute for Healthcare Improvement
IHS
Indian Health Service (HHS) – Responsible for the health care needs of Native Americans and Alaska Natives, which includes maintaining clinics and hospitals, improving sanitation and water supply systems, sponsoring disease prevention programs, and performing clinical research.
Joint Commission for Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations. Hospitals and healthcare facilities must be accredited by this organization every two years in order to be eligible for federal funding programs such as Medicare and Medicaid and other insurance programs (one of three programs offering PCMH recognition or accreditation).
(Health Center Program) Look-Alike Health Center – Clinics that operate and provide services consistent with Health Center Program requirements. Look-alikes do not receive Health Center Program funding, but are eligible to apply to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) for reimbursement under FQHC Medicare and Medicaid payment methodologies, purchase discounted drugs through the 340B Federal Drug Pricing Program, receive automatic Health Professional Shortage Area designation, and may access National Health Service Corps providers.
A concept dividing the population into the following groups: perinatal, pediatric, adolescent, adult, geriatric and special populations (e.g., HIV+, Native Americans, Homeless). Health Care Plans are developed in response to the needs of these groups.
LRPB
Loan Repayment Programs Branch – One of three branches of the Division of Scholarships and Loan Repayments.
Media, Access, Point of Purchase/Promotion, Pricing, and Social Support and Services
MAT
Medication Assisted Treatment
MBCHP
Maine Breast and Cervical Health Program
Mbps
Mega bits per Second
MC
MaineCare
MCHB
Maternal and Child Health Bureau (HRSA) – Provides national leadership, in partnership with key stakeholders, to improve the physical and mental health, safety and well-being of the maternal and child health (MCH) population.
MCN
Migrant Clinicians Network
MCO
Managed Care Organization
MD
Doctor of Medicine (allopathic)
Medicaid
A federal/state funded program (also known as medical assistance), operated by the state, which provides medical benefits for certain low-income persons.
Medicare
A nationwide health insurance program for people over 65, and for persons eligible for social security disability payments.
Mega
million
MGMA
Medical Group Management Association
MHA
Master of Health Administration
MHC
Migrant Health Center – A health-care facility that provides prevention-oriented primary care services to migrant and seasonal farm workers and their families; funded under Section 329 of the US Public Health Service Act (sometimes referred to as “329s”).
MHP
Migrant Health Promotion
MIS
Management Information System
MLP
Medical-Legal Partnership
MOA/MOU
Memorandum of Agreement/Understanding
MPCA
Maine Primary Care Association – The primary care association representing health centers in the state of Maine.
MR
Medicare
MSAW
Migratory and Seasonal Agricultural Worker – New preferred term for MSFW.
MSFW
Migrant and Seasonal Farmworker; see MSAW
MSO
Management Services Organization
MU
Meaningful Use – Refers to Medicare and Medicaid Electronic Health Record (EHR) Incentive Programs, administered by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), in which eligible health care providers and hospitals have the opportunity to receive significant incentive payments for adoption and meaningful use of certified EHRs.
MUA
Medically Underserved Area – A geographic location that has insufficient health care resources to meet the needs of the population.
MUP
Medically Underserved Population – A group of individuals having insufficient health resources available to them to meet their needs (the population may or may not be located within an MUA).
National Association of City and County Health Officers
NACHC
National Association of Community Health Centers – The national association that represents community, migrant and homeless health centers.
NAM
North American Management
NAP
New Access Point – A category of HRSA grants which may be awarded through the Consolidated Health Center Program.
NASBHC
National Assembly on School-Based Health Care
NASW
National Association of Social Work
NCD
National Central Division (BPHC)
NCFH
National Center for Farmworker Health
NCH
National Coalition for the Homeless
NCHS
National Center for Health Statistics
NCI
National Cancer Institute
NCQA
National Committee for Quality Assurance (one of three programs offering PCMH recognition or accreditation)
NDA
Notice of Deeming Action (with FTCA)
NED
Northeast Division (BPHC)
NELRP
Nursing Education Loan Repayment Program
NGA
Notice of Grant Award or National Governors’ Association
NHAS
National HIV/AIDS Strategy
NHCHC
National Health Care for the Homeless Council
NHDP
National Hansen’s Disease Program (BPHC)
NHSC
National Health Service Corps – A federal program offering scholarships and loan repayment to clinical providers, and technical assistance to communities; their mission is to assist in the development, recruitment and retention of community-responsive, culturally competent primary care providers in order to serve people in health professional shortage areas (HPSAs).
NHSC LRP
National Health Service Corps Loan Repayment Program
NHSC SP
National Health Service Corps Scholarship Program
NIA
National Institute on Aging
NIH
National Institutes of Health (HHS) – Conducts health-related research both directly and through the provision of grants to other organizations.
NIOSH
National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health
NLM
National Library of Medicine
NMMC
Northern Maine Medical Center
NMWC
National Migrant Workers Council
NNOHA
National Network for Oral Health Access
NOA
Notice of Award
NOFOA
Notice of Funding Opportunity Announcement
NoPP
Notice of Privacy Practice
NOSORH
National Organization of State Offices of Rural Health
NP
Nurse Practitioner
NPDB
National Practitioner Data Bank
NPI
National Provider Identification #'s
NPRM
Notice of Proposed Rulemaking
NRHA
National Rural Health Association
NTTAP
National Training and Technical Assistance Partner – HRSA establishes NTTAP Cooperative Agreements with organizations to provide national T/TA to potential and existing section 330 funded health centers.
Primary Care Association – A state (SPCA) or regional (RPCA) nonprofit organization, federally-funded, representing the interests of its members (primarily community and migrant health centers) and the patients served by its members.
PCER
Primary Care Effectiveness Review
PCMH
Patient-Centered Medical Home – A model of primary health care that puts the patient at the center of the model and also includes: access to care; comprehensive care; coordinated care; evidence-based care; payment structures that value primary care; quality care; safe care; systems-based approach to care; and team-based care.
PCO
Primary Care Office
PCP
Primary Care Provider
PCSA
Primary Care Service Area
PD
Position Description
PDSA Cycle
A structured trial of change which includes four phases: plan, do, study, and act; the PDSA cycle will naturally lead to the “plan” component of a subsequent cycle.
PEERS
Patient Experience Evaluation Report System
Performance Measures
Clinical and Financial Performance Measures data that each recognized Health Center Program organization must report via the Uniform Data System (UDS) annually, addressing quality of care, health outcomes/disparities, and financial viability/costs.
PHI
Protected Health Information
PHPC
Public Housing Primary Care
PHS
(United States) Public Health Service
PIN
Policy Information Notice
PMM
Project Management Module (EHB)
PMS
Payment Management System
PMS
Practice Management System
PO
Purchase Order
POP
Principles of Practice – A document completed annually by all federal NHSC assignees, which describes the scope and location of their practices. The POP is negotiated between the assignee and his/her project and provides the basis for the assignee’s federal malpractice (tort) coverage.
PPA
Private Practice Assignment – A type of NHSC assignment. The PPA professional is employed by, and subject to the personnel system of, the nonprofit private or public entity (the Entity) to which they are assigned. The salary and benefits are paid by the Entity.
PPACA
Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act
PPO
Private Practice Option – A type of NHSC assignment. The PPO professional conducts full-time private practice in an approved HPSA or Preferred Provider Organization.
PPS
Prospective Payment System – Through CMS, the methodology and payment rates relating to Medicare Part B; based on a national rate which is adjusted based on the location of where the services are furnished, which is increased when a patient is new to the FQHC, or an Initial Preventive Physical Exam (IPPE) or Annual Wellness Visit (AWV) is furnished.
PR
Payment Reform
Program Requirements
The 18 key requirements a health center is required to meet as a condition of being a recognized Health Center Program organization, within four areas: Need, Services, Management and Finance, and Governance.
Project Officer
The federal employee having primary responsibility for a project or group of projects (referred to in some regions as Project Management Consultant).
Quality Assurance – A process used to assure that care being rendered meets individual clinic goals, as well as meeting community standards.
QI
Quality Improvement – A formal approach to the analysis of performance and systematic efforts to improve it; various methods/models of QI include: total quality management (TQM), continuous quality improvement (CQI), Six Sigma, LEAN, and more; all QI models are aimed at improving performance; in health care, improving performance can result in a reduction of medical errors, morbidity, and mortality, and lead to improved quality of life for patients and communities.
QIQA
Quality Inprovement/Quality Assurance
QM
Quality Management
Quadruple Aim
The Triple Aim, with the added goal of improving the work life of health care providers.
The clinician, within the HRSA Field Office, having primary responsibility for clinical affairs within the Region.
RFC
Request for Check
RHA
Regional Health Administrator – Oversees DHHS activities within his/her region. The United States is divided into 10 regions for the administration of DHHS programs.
RHC
Rural Health Clinic/Center – A clinic located in a rural area that receives cost-based reimbursement, under Medicaid and Medicare, due to its qualifying under the Rural Health Clinic Act (RHCA).
RHIO
Regional Health Information Organizations – Organized cross-jurisdictional healthcare data-sharing organizations.
RHN
Rural Health Network
RM
Risk Management.
RN
Registered Nurse
RPC
Regional Program Consultant – A regional/field office employee responsible for a specific program.
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (HHS) – Has both service and educational components dealing with substance abuse and mental health.
SBHC
School-Based Health Center
SBIRT
Screening, Brief Intervention, Referral to Treatment
SCHIP
State Children’s Health Insurance Program
Scholar
A person receiving education grants from NHSC in return for a required period of service in a high-scoring HPSA.
SDC
Strategic Data Committee – Serves as a resource for CCHN staff in completing the projects involving strategic data, including the SSP, Environmental Assessment, and projects specified by the Executive Committee, and also provides strategic guidance on CCHN data projects.
SDOH
Social Determinants of Health or Social Drivers of Health
SE
Service Expansion
SEARCH
Student/Resident Experiences and Rotations in Community Health
Section 330
Section 330 of the Public Health Service Act Statute
SF
Sliding Fee
SG
Surgeon General of the United States
SLRP
State Loan Repayment Program
SOP
Standard Operating Procedure
SORH
State Offices of Rural Health
SPCA
State Primary Care Association
SS
Social Security Number
SUD
Substance Use Disorder
SWC
Strategic Workforce Committee – Serves as the strategic advisory committee for all CCHN workforce programs and projects, including the workforce components of Access for All Colorado.
The Joint Commission; see Joint Commission/JCAHO (one of three programs offering PCMH recognition or accreditation)
TQM
Total Quality Management
Triple Aim
Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI) Triple Aim – A framework that describes an approach to optimizing health system performance in three areas simultaneously: Experience of Care (improving the patient experience of care, including quality and satisfaction), Population Health (improving the health of populations), and Per Capita Cost (reducing the per capita cost of health care).
Usual and Customary Rates – Those rates normally charged by health care providers for a service in a given geographical area.
UDS
Uniform Data System – A uniform set of tables, data elements and definitions pertaining to the operational, financial and administrative management of the program, which programs are required to complete annually. The UDS replaced the BCRR in 1996.