If you would like to recommend additions to the Delaware Healthcare Association's Glossary, send them for consideration to suzanne@deha.org.

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.

 

AA	Alcoholics Anonymous
AAA	Area Agency on Aging
AAAS	American Association for the Advancement of Science.
AABB	American Association of Blood Banks.
AAFP	American Academy of Family Physicians
AAHC	Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care
AAHE	Association for the Advancement of Health Education.
AAHP	American Association of Health Plans (formerly GHAA and AMCRA)
AAHSA	American Association of Homes & Services for the Aging
AAMA	American Association of Medical Assistants
AAMC	Association of American Medical Colleges
AANA	American Association of Nurse Anesthetist
AAP	American Association of Pathologists
AAPI	American Accreditation Program Inc.
AAPCC	Adjusted average per capita cost
AAPPO	American Association of Preferred Provider Organizations
AARP	American Association of Retired Persons
AART	American Association for Respiratory Therapy
ABC	American Blood Commission
ACC	American College of Cardiology
ACG	American College of Gastroenterology
ACHE	American College of Healthcare Executives
ACIL	American Council of Independent Laboratories
ACLA	American Clinical Laboratory Association
ACLPS	Academy of Clinical Laboratory Physicians and Scientists
ACNHA	American College of Nursing Home Administrators
ACNM	American College of Nurse Midwives
ACOG	American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists
ACP	American College of Physicians
ACPE	American College of Physician Executives
ACR	Adjusted community rating
ACSW	Academy of Certified Social Workers
ADA	American Dental Association, or American Dietetic Association, or American with Disabilities Act
ADAA	American Dental Assistants Association
ADFS	Alternative Delivery and Financing System
ADHA	American Dental Hygienists Association
ADL	Activity of daily living
ADS	Alternative delivery system
AFC	Adult Foster Care
AFDC	Aid to Families with Dependant Children
AHA	American Hospital Association, or American Heart Association
AHC	Alternative health care.
AHCA	American Health Care Association
AHCCCS	Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System
AHCPR	Agency for Health Care Policy and Research
AHP	Accountable Health Plans
AHPA	American Health Planning Association
AIDS	Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome
ALF	Assisted Living Facility
ALT	Alanine aminotransferase
ALTS	Arizona Long Term Care System
AMA	American Medical Association
AMCP	Academy of Managed Care Pharmacy
AMCPA	American Managed Care Pharmacy Association
AMP	Average manufacturer's price
ANA	American Nurses Association
ANCP	Advanced Nurse Care Practitioner
AND	Associate Degree in Nursing
ANDA	Abbreviated new drug approval
ANOVA	Analysis of variance
AOA	American Osteopathic Association
AoA	Administration on Aging
AOCP	American Osteopathic College of Pathologists
APA	American Psychiatric Association, or American Psychological Association
APDRG	All Patient Diagnosis Related Groups
APF	American Pathology Foundation
APGS	Ambulatory Patient Group
AphA	American Pharmaceutical Association
APHA	American Public Health Association
APN	Advanced Practice Nurse
APPMA	American Pharmaceutical Project Managers Associates
APR	Adjusted Payment Rate
APS	Adult Protective Services
APT	Admissions per 1,000
ARC	AIDS-Related Conditions
ARP	Adjusted Payment Rate
ASAHP	American Society of Allied Health Professionals
ASC	Ambulatory Surgical Center
ASCP	American Society of Clinical Pathologists
ASHP	American Society of Hospital Pharmacists
ASIM	American Society of Internal Medicine
ASO	Administrative services only
ASR	Age/Sex Rates
AUR	Ambulatory utilization review
AWP	Average wholesale price
AZT	Zidovudine
BC/BS	Blue Cross/Blue Shield
BP	Blood pressure
BSA	Body surface area
BSN	Bachelor of Science in Nursing
CalPERS	California Public Employees' Retirement System
CAP	College of American Pathologists, or Capitation
CARF	Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities
CCAC	Continuing Care Accreditation Commission
CCHRI	California Cooperative HEDIS Reporting Initiative
CCN	Community Care Network
CCRC	Continuing Care Retirement Community
CCU	Cardiac care unit
CDC	Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
CEA	Cost-effectiveness analysis
CFR	Code of Federal Regulations
CHA	Catholic Health Association
CHAMPUS	Civilian Health and Medical Program of the Uniformed Services
CHC	Community Health Center
CHCQ	Commission on Health Care Quality
CHIN	Community Health Information Network
CHIP	Children's Health Insurance Plan
CHO	Comprehensive health organization
CHPA	Community Health Purchasing Alliance
CIL	Center for Independent Living
CLIA	Clinical Laboratory Improvement Act/Amendments
Cmax	Maximum concentration
CME	Continuing Medical Education
CMP	Competitive medical plan
CMR	Computerized Medical Record
CNM	Certified Nurse Midwife
CNO	Community Nursing Organization
CNP	Certified Nurse Practitioner
COB	Coordination of benefits
COBRA	Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act
COC	Certificate of coverage
CON	Certificate of Need
CORF	Comprehensive Outpatient Rehabilitation Facility
CPI	Consumer price index
CPR	Cardiopulmonary resuscitation, or Computerized patient record, or Certificate of Public Review
CPT	Current Procedural Terminology
CQI	Continuous quality improvement
CRNA	Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist
CRTT	Certified Respiratory Therapy Technician
DAW	Dispense as written
DD	Developmental Disability
DDS	Doctor of Dental Surgery
DEFRA	Deficit Reduction Act of 1984
DHHS	Department of Health and Human Services
DISPRO	Disproportionate Share Hospital
DMD	Doctor of Dental Medicine
DME	Durable medical equipment
DNR	Do not resuscitate
DO	Doctor of Osteopathy
DOB	Date of birth
DOH	Department of Health
DOS	Date of service
DPH	Doctor of Public Health
DPM	Doctor of Podiatric Medicine
DPR	Drug price review
DPT	Diphtheria - pertussis - tetanus vaccine
DRG	Diagnosis-related group
DRR	Drug regimen review
DSc	Doctor of Science
DSH	Disproportionate Share Hospital
DUE	Drug use evaluation
DUR	Drug utilization review
DVM	Doctor of Veterinary Medicine
Dx	Diagnosis
EAP	Employee assistance program
EBRI	Employee Benefit Research Institute
EDI	Electronic Data Interchange
EEOC	Equal Employment Opportunity Commission
ELP	Essential Lifestyle Planning
EMR	Electronic Medical Record
EMS	Emergency Medical Services
EMT	Emergency medical technician
ENT	Ear, nose, and throat
EOMB	Explanation of Medicare Benefits
EPA	Environmental Protection Agency
EPO	Exclusive provider organization, or Erthropoetin
EPSDT	Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnosis, and Treatment
EQRO	External Quality Review Organization
ER	Emergency room
ERISA	Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974
ESRD	End Stage Renal Disease
FACCT	Foundation for Accountability
FACHE	Fellow of American College of Health Care Executives
FAHS	Federation of American Health Systems
FASB	Financial Accounting Standards Board
FDA	Food and Drug Administration
FEHBP	Federal Employees Health Benefits Program
FFP	Federal Financial Participation
FFS	Fee for service
FHA	Farmers Home Administration
FMAP	Federal Medical Assistance Percentage
FMLA	Family Medical Leave Act
FOC	Freedom of Choice
FP	Family practitioner
FPL	Federal Poverty Level
FQHC	Federally Qualified Health Center
FSA	Flexible spending account
FSH	Follicle-stimulating hormone
FTE	Full-time equilavent
FY	Fiscal year
GAO	General Accounting Office
GHAA	Group Health Association of America
GHI	Group Health Inc., or Group Health Institute
GI	Gastrointestinal
GIFT	Gamese intrafallopian transfer
GME	Graduate medical education
GNP	Gross national product
GP	General practitioner
GPO	Group Purchasing Organization
HBO	Health benefits organization
HCBS	Home and Community-Based Services
HCFA	Health Care Financing Administration
HCHP	Harvard Community Health Plan
HCPCS	HCFA Common Procedural Coding System
HCPP	Health Care Prepayment Plan
HEDIS	Health Plan Employer Data and Information Set
HFMA	Healthcare Financial Management Association
Hg	Mercury
HHA	Home health agency
HHS	Department of Health and Human Services
HIAA	Health Insurance Association of America
HIMA	Health Industry Manufacturers Association
HIO	Health Insuring Organization
HIPAA	Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act
HIPC	Health Insurance Purchasing Cooperative
HL7	Health Level Seven
HMO	Health maintenance organization
HMSA	Health Manpower Shortage Area
HSC	Health Services Corporation
HSP	Health service plan
HSO	Health services organization
HUD	Housing and Urban Development
IADL	Instrumental Activities of Daily Living
ICD-9	International Classification of Diseases, 9th Edition
ICD-9-CM	International Classification of Diseases, 9th Edition (Clinical Modification)
ICF	Intermediate Care Facility
ICF/MR	Intermediate Care Facility for Mentally Retarded Persons
ICU	Intensive care unit
IDFS	Integrated delivery and financing system
IG	Inspector General
IME	Independent Medical Evaluation
IP	Inpatient
IPA	Independent practice organization, or Individual practice organization
IPN	Integrated Provider Network
ISN	Integrated Services Network
IU	International unit
IV	Intravenous
JCAHO	Joint Commission on Accreditation of Health Care Organizations
JV	Joint venture
LCP	Licensed clinical psychologist
LCSW	Licensed clinical social worker
LOC	Level of Care
LOS	Length of stay
LPC	Licensed professional counselor
LPN	Licensed practical nurse
LSW	Licensed Social Worker
LTC	Long-term care
LTCOP	Long term care options program, or Long term care ombudsman program
MAC	Maximum allowable cost
MAMSI	Mid-Atlantic Medical Services
MCCA	Medicare catastrophic coverage act
MCE	Medical Care Evaluation Studies
MCO	Managed care organization
MCR	Modified community rating
MD	Medical doctor
MDC	Major diagnostic category
MDS	Minimum Data Set
MedPAC	Medicare Payment Advisory Commission
MedPAR	Medicare provider analysis and review file
MET	Multiple employer trust
MEWA	Multiple employer welfare arrangement
MF	Medical foundations
MGMA	Medical Group Management Association
MH/SA	Mental health/substance abuse
MIG	Medicare insured group
MIS	Management information systems
MMIS	Medicaid Management Information System
MMPI	Minnesota multiphasic personality inventory
MMS	Medicaid management information system
MOB	Maintenance of benefits
MPH	Master of public health
MPPPA	Medicaid prudent pharmaceutical purchasing act
MRI	Magnetic resonance imaging
MS	Master of science
MSA	Medical savings account
MSDS	Material safety data sheet
MSO	Management services organization
MSS	Medical social services
MSW	Masters in social work
MUD	Medically unnecessary days
NABP	National Association of Boards of Pharmacy
NAEHCA	National Association of Employers on Health Care Action
NAHDO	National Association of Health Data Organizations
NAIC	National Association of Insurance Commissioners
NAM	National Association of Manufacturers
NAMOR	National Association of HMO Regulators
NAPH	National Association of Public Hospitals
NAPM	National Association of Pharmaceutical Manufacturers
NARD	National Association of Retail Druggists
NASW	National Association of Social Workers
NBME	National Board of Medical Examiners
NCH	National Claims History
NCQA	National Committee on Quality Assurance
NCPDP	National Council of Prescription Drug Programs
NDA	New drug approval
NDC	National Drug Code
NF	Nursing Facility
NFPA	National Fire Protection Agency
NHB	National Health Board
NHI	National health insurance
NHLA	National Health Lawyers Association
NHS	National health service
NIA	National Institute on Aging
NIH	National Institutes of Health
NIMMH	National Institute of Mental Health
NMHCC	National Managed Health Care Congress
NMR	Nuclear magnetic resonance, usu. MRI
NP	Nurse practitioner
NPA	National Prescription Audit
NPC	National Pharmaceutical Council
NRC	Nuclear Regulatory Commission
OA	Osteoarthritis, or Open access
OAA	Older American Act
OASIS	Outcomes and Assessment Information Set
OBRA	Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act
OC	Oral contraceptive
OIG	Office of the Inspector General
OMB	Office of Management and Budget
OPM	Office of Personnel Management
OPO	Organ Procurement Organization
OR	Operating room
OSHA	Occupational Safety and Health Administration
OT	Occupational Therapist
OTA	Office of Technology Assessment
P&T	Pharmacy and Therapeutics Committee
PA	Physicians assistant, or Professional association
PAC	Political Action Committee
PACE	Program of all-inclusive care for the elderly
PASARR	Pre-admission screening and annual resident review
PASS	Plan for achieving self support
PCCM	Primary care case management
PCN	Primary care network
PCP	Primary Care Physician
PCPM	Per contract per month
PCR	Physician contingency reserve
PCPT	Physician's current procedural terminology
PERS	Personal Emergency Response System
PharmD	Doctor of Pharmacy
PhD	Doctor of Philosophy
PHO	Physician-hospital organization
PHP	Prepaid health plan
PhRMA	Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers Association
PHS	Public Health Service
PMA	Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Association
PMG	Primary medical group
PMPM	Per member per month
PMPY	Per member per year
POA	Physician Organization Arrangement
POS	Point of service
PPMC	Physician practice management company
PPO	Preferred provider organization
PPRC	Physician Payment Review Commission
PPS	Prospective payment system
PRO	Peer-review organization, or Professional review organization
ProPAC	Prospective Payment Assessment Commission
PRS	Personal Emergency Response System
PSAO	Pharmacy services administration organization
PSN	Provider sponsored/services network
PSO	Provider Services Organization, or Provider Sponsored Organization
PSRO	Professional Standards Regulatory Organization
PsyD	Doctor of psychology
PT	Physical therapist, or Prothrombin time
QA	Quality assurance, or Quality assessment
QALY	Quality of life-year
QARI	Quality assurance reform initiative
QI	Quality improvement
QIO	Quality improvement organization
QISMC	Quality improvement system for managed care
QM	Quality management
QMB	Qualified Medicare Beneficiary
QOL	Quality of life
R&C	Reasonable and customary
RAI	Resident assessment instrument
RAP	Resident assessment protocols
RBRVS	Resource-based relative value scale
RCRA	Resource Conservation and Recovery Act
RDRG	Refined Diagnosis Related Group
RFP	Request for proposal
RMC	Rating method code
RN	Registered nurse
ROI	Return on investment
RPh	Registered pharmacist
RUGS III	Resource utilization groups
RV	Residual volume
RVS	Residual volume scale, or Relative value scale
RWJ	Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
SCH	Sole community hospital
SCR	Standard class rate
SD	Standard deviation
SE	Standard error
SEM	Standard error of the mean
S/HMO	Social health maintenance organization
SIC	Standard industry code
SLMB	Specified low income Medicare beneficiaries
SMI	Supplementary medical insurance
SMSA	Standard metropolitan statistical area
SNF	Skilled nursing facility
SSBG	Social Service Block Grant
SSI	Supplemental Security Income
ST	Speech Therapist
SUA	State unit on aging
SURS	Survey and utilization reviews
TA	Technology assessment
TANF	Temporary assistance to needy families
TEFRA	Tax Equity and Fiscal Responsibility Act of 1982
TPA	Third-party administrator
TPN	Total parenternal nutrition
TQM	Total quality management
U	Unit
UB	Uniform billing
UB-92	Uniform Billing Code of 1992
U&C or UC	Usual and customary
UCR	Usual, customary, and reasonable
UM	Utilization management
UR	Utilization review
URAC	Utilization Review Accreditation Commission
URO	Utilization review organization
US	Ultrasound
USAN	United State Adopted Names
USP	Untied States Pharmacopoeia
USPCC	United States per capita cost
VA	Veterans Administration
VHA	Volunteer Hospital Association
VR	Vocational rehabilitation
WHO	World Health Organization
YTD	Year to date