Healthcare Acronyms and Their Meanings

AHRQ

Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality

APCs

ambulatory payment classifications

APN

advanced practice nurse

BBA

Balanced Budget Act

CAH

critical access hospital

CBO

Congressional Budget Office

CER

comparative effectiveness research

CHC

community health center

CHIP

Children's Health Insurance Program

CMS

Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services

COBRA

Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act

CPOE

computerized provider order entry

CQI

continuous quality improvement

DRGs

diagnosis-related groups

EMTALA

Emergency Medical Treatment and Active Labor Act

ERISA

Employee Retirement Income Security Act

FMAP

Federal Medical Assistance Percentage

HDHP/SO

high-deductible health plan with a savings option

HEDIS

Healthcare Effectiveness Data and Information Set

HIPAA

Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act

HIT

health information technology

HITECH

Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act

HMO

health maintenance organization

HRSA

Health Resources and Services Administration

IADLs

instrumental activities of daily living

IPA

independent practice association

LPN

licensed practical nurse

LTC

long-term care

MA

Medicare Advantage

MACRA

Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act

MA-PD

Medicare Advantage Prescription Drug Plan

MedPAC

Medicare Payment Advisory Commission

MIPS

Merit-based Incentive Payment System

MLR

medical loss ratio

MMA

Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act

MSSP

Medicare Shared Savings Program

MUAs

medically underserved areas

NCHS

National Center for Health Statistics

NCQA

National Committee for Quality Assurance

NHI

national health insurance

NIH

National Institutes of Health

NP

nurse practitioner

OBRA

Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act

PBMs

pharmacy benefits managers

PCMH

patient-centered medical home

PCP

primary care physician

PHI

personal health information

PMPM

per member per month

PPO

preferred provider organization

PPS

prospective payment system

QALY

quality-adjusted life year

RBRVS

resource-based relative value scales

RVUs

relative value units

SAV

small area variations

SES

socioeconomic status

SNF

skilled nursing facility

SSI

Supplemental Security Income

TANF

Temporary Assistance for Needy Families

UCR

usual, customary, and reasonable

UR

utilization review

VBP

Value-Based Purchasing/Payment

WHO

World Health Organization

WIC

Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children