Which department is the primary federal department responsible for health and human services policies in the United States?

• A. Department of Health and Human Services
• B. Department of Education
• C. Department of Defense
• D. Department of Justice

Answer: (A)

Health and human services policy in the United States is led by the Department of Health and Human Services. This department oversees the broad mandate of protecting health and providing essential human services, administering major national programs through agencies like the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the National Institutes of Health, and the Food and Drug Administration. Its wide scope—covering public health, clinical care, regulation, research, and social services funding—makes it the primary federal entity shaping health and human services policy and how care is delivered. Other departments have related roles: Education focuses on schools and learning, Defense covers military health services for personnel, and Justice handles legal and enforcement aspects of health care, but they are not the central hubs for health and human services policy.