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To look up a health care term such as Actuary, choose the letter that the term begins with below under Alphabetical Glossary. This will take you to the terms beginning with that letter. To look up a health care acronym such as AIDS, choose the letter that the term begins with below under Acronyms. This will take you to all acronyms that begin with that letter.

National Board of Medical Examiners	A non-profit organization responsible for preparing and administering qualifying examinations for physicians.
National Cancer Registry	A unit within the National Institutes of Health that provides updates on the latest cancer diseases, research and diagnosis.
National Center for Health Services Research	A division within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services that supports analyses and evaluations of the health care system and its financing and underwrites the development and testing of new approaches to improve the distribution, use and cost-effectiveness of services.
National Center for Health Statistics	A division within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services that is responsible for gathering data on illness and disability, producing the vital statistics of the nation and tracking the use and availability of health services and resources.
National Claim History (NCH)	A HCFA data reporting system that combines both Part A and Part B claims in a common file.
National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA)	A non-profit organization created to improve patient care quality and health plan performance in partnership with managed care plans, purchasers, consumers, and the public sector.
National Drug Code (NDC)	A national classification system for identification of drugs. Similar to the universal product code (UPC).
National Fire Protection Association (NFPA)	An association that develops standards related to fire protection. Fire departments usually adopt these standards into local regulations.
NFPA Storage Codes	National Fire Protection Association storage codes. As fire departments inspect businesses, especially radiology departments, several questions arise including storage codes for x-ray films and chemicals. Contact your local fire department for further information for your area.
National Health Board (NHB)	The National Health Board has been described by most managed competition plans as an independent Federal agency charged with implementation and oversight of the national health care plan. It would likely be responsible for developing the uniform benefits package, setting standards and registration requirements for AHPs and HIPCs, and any other tasks as designated by Congress or the Administration. Board members would serve staggered terms and be insulated from the Executive and Legislative branches. Membership would reflect provider, consumer and public policy interests.
National Health Expenditures	All spending in the U.S. for health services, including individual expenditures not reimbursed, the administrative costs of non-profit and government health programs, the net cost to enrollees of private health insurance, government expenditures designed to promote health in general, non-commercial health research, and construction of medical facilities.
National Health Insurance	Proposed Federal program that would use tax funds to finance the provision of comprehensive health benefits for the population. Scope of benefits, provider and beneficiary eligibility, financing, and ownership and control of resources, among other issues, must be defined.
National Institute on Aging (NIA)	Federal agency within the National Institutes of Health that conducts and supports biomedical and behavioral research to increase knowledge of the aging process and associated factors resulting from old age. NIA conducts laboratory and clinical research at it Gerontology Research Center in Baltimore, MD and its clinics. NIA funds research on aging at universities, hospitals, and other organizations.
National Institutes of Health	A division within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services that is responsible for most of the agency's medical research programs.
National Practitioner Data Bank	Database containing information on physicians including malpractice claims and disciplinary action operated by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
Negotiated Fee Schedule	Fees set through an organized bargaining process usually used to help determine a global budget. Also called negotiated payment schedule.
Net Loss Ratio	The result of total claims liability and all expenses divided by premiums. This is the carrier's loss ratio after accounting for all expenses.
Network	A set group of providers associated by contractual agreements that provide either specific benefits or a full choice of acute and long term care services.
Network-Model HMO	A network of group practices under the administration of one HMO.
Noncontributory	A situation in which the plan sponsor pays the entire cost or premiums for coverage. Employees do not contribute toward the cost of the coverage.
Nondiscrimination Rules  Section 89, Internal Revenue Code	Provisions contained in the Tax Reform Act of 1986 (P.L. 99-514), amending Section 89 of the Internal Revenue Code to help ensure more equity in the provision of employer-financed group term life, accident, health and welfare benefits among the highly compensated and other employees. The provision became effective January 1, 1989. The Internal Revenue Service will establish tests to determine continuous employer compliance with the requirements. Financial penalties for the employer that fails to meet Section 89 requirements will be imposed upon its highly compensated employees.
Nonforfeiture Feature	A provision in some long-term care policies offering a guarantee that certain policy benefits will remain available even if the enrollee stops paying premiums. One type of non-forfeiture is a paid-up policy providing the same benefits for a shorter period of lower benefits for the same period as the original policy. Return of premium benefits are another form of non-forfeiture. Also known as lapsed coverage protection.
Nonparticipating Provider	A health care provider who has not contracted with the carrier or health plan to be a participating provider of health care.
Nuclear Medicine Technologist	Operates radioscopic equipment to produce scanograms and measure concentrations of radioactive isotopes in specific body areas for diagnostic purposes.
Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC)	A Federal commission created in 1974 to protect the public health and safety by regulating civilian uses of nuclear materials.
Nurse	A legally qualified person who is licensed by the state to provide nursing services. Also see registered nurse, licensed practical nurse, nurse practitioner, and advanced nurse practitioner.
Nurse Assistant	Performs a variety of routine duties for patients in caring for their personnel needs and comfort. Includes answering signal lights, baths, assists with personal hygiene, alcohol rubs, bed pans, takes and records temperatures, pulse, intake and output, gives enemas, etc.
Nurse Manager	Performs all the duties of an R.N., plus plans and supervises work of all nursing personnel within an assigned unit of the nursing department.
Nurse Practitioner (NP)	A registered nurse with additional specialized graduate level training. An NP performs physical exams and diagnostic tests, counsels patients, and develops treatment programs. Also see mid level practitioner.
Nurses Aide	Legally qualified person who is certified by the state to perform certain health care services, usually in the area of personal care or home health services. Also called certified nurses aid.
Nursing Facility (NF)	Facilities licensed by and approved by the state in which eligible individuals receive skilled nursing care and appropriate rehabilitative and restorative services.
Nursing Supervisor	Responsible for reviewing specific problems with other nursing personnel; makes rounds to all nursing units, answers all Dr. Stat calls, assists physicians in these emergencies, develops and directs orientation program for nursing service personnel, assumes administrative duties in absence of assistant director of nursing.