Health Center Acronyms

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329/330/340 Projects

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.

3RNet

National Rural Recruitment and Retention Network

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AAAHC

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)

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BBA

Balanced Budget Act

BCBS

Blue Cross/Blue Shield

BCRR

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.

BPI

Business Process Improvement

BPR

Budget Period Renewal

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C/MHCs

Community and Migrant Health Centers

CA

Cooperative Agreement

CAH

Critical Access Hospital

CAN

Common Accounting Number

CC

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.

CRH

Calais Regional Hospital

CSD

Central Southeast Division (BPHC)

CY

Calendar Year

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DAB

Department Appeals Board (HHS)

Data T1

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.

DX

Diagnosis

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ECSID

Electronic Claim Submission Identification

EDA

Early Decision Alternative – A scholarship obligor matching before the EDA deadline has the freedom to choose from any available HPOL site

EEO/EOE

Equal Employment Opportunity/Equal Opportunity Employer

EEOC

U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission

EHB

Electronic Handbook – HRSA’s web portal for submitting grant-related information and reports.

EHC

Eastport Health Center

EHCI

Education Health Center Initiative

EHR

Electronic Health Records – A systematic collection of electronic health information about an individual patient.

EMC

Expanded Medical Capacity – A category of HRSA grants which may be awarded through the Consolidated Health Center Program.

EMMC

Eastern Maine Medical Center

EMR

Electronic Medical Records (System); see also EHR

EMS

Emergency Medical Services

Encounter

A contact between a patient and a health care provider (face-to-face).

EOB

Explanation of Benefits

EOD

End of Day

EOM

End of Month

EP

Emergency Preparedness

EPSDT

Early Periodic Screening, Diagnosis, and Treatment

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FDA

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.

FTE

Full-Time Equivalent

FY

Fiscal Year

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GAAP

Generally Accepted Accounting Principles

GME

Graduate Medical Education

GMO

Grants Management Officer

GMS

Grants Management Specialist

GSA

General Services Administration – This is essentially the procurement agency for the government. Anything you want purchased must be approved by this agency first.

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HAB

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.

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ICD-9

International Classification of Diseases

IDS

Integrated Delivery Systems

IDS

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.

IOS

Immediate Office of the Secretary (HHS)

ISDI

Integrated Service Delivery Initiative

IT

Information Technology

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Joint Commission/ JCAHO

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).

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LAL

(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.

LEP

Limited English Proficiency

LGBTQIA

Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender Queer Intersex Asexual

Lifecycles

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.

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M/CHCs

Migrant and Community Health Centers

MAI

Management Assessment Item

MAPPS

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).

MYA

Mid-Year Assessment

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NACCHO 

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.

O

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O&E

Outreach & Enrollment (for health insurance)

OAA

Office of the Associate Administrator (BPHC)

OAFM

Office of Administration and Financial Management

OAM

Office of Administrative Management (BPHC)

OASH

Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health (HHS)

OC

Office of Communications

OCR

Office for Civil Rights (HHS)

ODOM

Office of Data and Organizational Management (HRSA)

OEOCR

Office of Equal Opportunity and Civil Rights

OFAM

Office of Federal Assistance Management

OGA

Office of Global Affairs (HHS)

OGC

Office of General Counsel (HHS)

OGH

Office of Global Health (HRSA)

OGM

Office of Grants Management

OHE

Office of Health Equity (HRSA)

OHITQ

Office of Health Information Technology and Quality (BPHC)

OIEA

Office of Intergovernmental and External Affairs (HHS)

OIG

Office of the Inspector General (HHS)

OIHA

Office of International Health Affairs

OIT

Office of Information Technology

OL

Office of Legislation

OMB

Office of Management and Budget

OMH

Office of Minority Health

OMHA

Office of Medicare Hearings and Appeals (HHS)

ONAP

Office of National AIDS Policy

ONC

Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (HHS)

OO

Office of Operations (HRSA)

OPAE

Office of Planning, Analysis and Evaluation (HRSA)

OPDIV

Operating Division

OPPD

Office of Policy and Program Development (BPHC)

OPR

Office of Performance Review

OQI

Office of Quality Improvement (BPHC)

ORHP

Office of Rural Health Policy (HRSA)

ORO

Office of Regional Operations

OSBO

Office of Strategic Business Operations (BPHC)

OSHA

Occupational Safety and Health Administration (U.S. Department of Labor)

OSPH

Office of Special Population Health (BPHC)

OSV

Operational Site Visit

OTC

Over the Counter

OTCO

Office of the Chief Technology Officer (HHS)

OTTAC

Office of Training and Technical Assistance Coordination (BPHC)

OV

Office Visit

OWH

Office of Women’s Health (HRSA)

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PA

Physician Assistant, or Public Affairs

PA-C

Physician Assistant-Certified

PAC

Progressive Action Condition

PACE

Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly

PAL

Program Assistance Letter

PAO

Program Approving Official

PAR

Program Analysis and Recommendation

PC

Personal Computer

PCA

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).

PSC

Program Support Center (HHS)

PSO

Provider Sponsored Organization

PT

Patient

PX

Physical

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QA

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.

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R&R

Recruitment and Retention

RA

Remittance Advice

RAC

Rural Assistance Center

REC

Regional Extension Center

Regional Clinical Consultant

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.

RPCA

Regional Primary Care Association

RRC

Rural Referral Center

RSA

Rural Service Area

RTSC

Recruitment Training and Support Center

RVU

Relative Value Unit

RX

Pharmacy Prescription

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SAC

Service Area Competition

SAMHSA

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.

SWD

Southwest Division (BPHC)

T

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T/TA

Training and Technical Assistance

T1

Digital Connection

TAMC

The Aroostook Medical Center

THC

Teaching Health Center

TJC

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).

TX

Therapy/Treatment

U

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UCR

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.

UPR

Uniform Progress Report

V

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VHA

Veterans Health Administration

W

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W/C

Workman's Compensation

WAP

Wireless Access Point

WCC

Well Child Check

WIC

Women, Infants, and Children Program