| AAAHC |
Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care |
| AAFP |
American Academy of Family Physicians |
| AAHCP |
American Academy of Home Care Physicians |
| AAHPM |
American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Care |
| AAHSA |
American Association for Homes and Services for the Aging - represents non-profit providers of nursing facilities, home health agencies, assisted living communities, and continuing care retirement communities. |
| ACHCA |
American College of Health Care Administrators |
| ACP-ASIM |
American College of Physicians - American Society of Internal Medicine |
| ADA |
American Dietetic Association |
| ADC |
Alzheimer's Disease Center |
| ADEAR |
Alzheimer's Disease Education and Referral Center |
| AHCA |
American Health Care Association - represents for-profit owners of nursing facilities and assisted living facilities. |
| AHRQ |
Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality |
| AIR |
American Institute of Research |
| ALFA |
Assisted Living Federation of America |
| AMDCP |
American Medical Directors Certification Program |
| ASCP |
American Society of Consultant Pharmacists |
| BQC, BQA |
Bureau of Quality Compliance or Assurance |
| CDC |
Centers for Disease Control |
| CERTs |
Centers for Education & Research on Therapeutics |
| CMS |
Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (formerly HCFA) |
| DEA |
Drug Enforcement Authority |
| DHHS |
Department of Health and Human Services |
| DSS |
Department of Social Services |
| FDA |
Food and Drug Administration |
| FEHBP |
Federal Employees Health Benefit Program |
| GSA |
Gerontological Society of America |
| HCFA |
Health Care Financing Administration (now CMS) - agency that administers Medicare and Medicaid. |
| HHS |
Health and Human Services |
| JCAHO |
Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations |
| MedPAC |
Medicare Payment Advisory Commission |
| MSO |
Management Services Organization |
| NADONA |
National Association of Directors of Nursing Administration |
| NAGNA |
National Association for Geriatric Nurse Aides |
| NAIC |
National Association of Insurance Commissioners |
| NANDA |
North American Nursing Diagnosis Association |
| NCCNHR |
National Citizens Coalition for Nursing Home Reform |
| NCI |
National Cancer Institute |
| NCQA |
Managed Care Association |
| NCQA |
National Committee for Quality Assurance |
| NFCA |
National Family Caregivers Association |
| NIH |
National Institutes of Health |
| NIMH |
National Institutes of Mental Health |
| NLN |
National League for Nursing |
| NPDB |
National Practitioner Data Bank |
| NQF |
National Quality Forum |
| OCI |
Office of the Commissioner of Insurance |
| OIG |
Office of the Inspector General |
| OMB |
Office of Management and Budget |
| OPHC |
Office of Prepaid Health Care |
| OSHA |
Occupational Health and Safety Administration |
| OTA |
Office of Technology Assessment |
| PRO |
Peer Review Organization (also known as QIO) |
| QIO |
Quality Improvement Organization |
| USP |
United States Pharmacopeia |
| USPHS |
United States Public Health Service |