Health Care Acronyms
ACA:Â (Patient Protection and) Affordable Care Act
ACO:Â Accountable Care Organization
AD&D:Â Accidental Death and Dismemberment
ADA:Â American with Disabilities Act of 1990
ALOS:Â Average Length of Stay
AMA:Â American Medical Association
APTC:Â Advanced Premium Tax Credit
ASC:Â Ambulatory Surgery Center
Auth:Â Authorization
BOI:Â Bureau of Insurance
CDHP:Â Consumer-Directed Health Plan
CHAMPUS:Â Civilian Hospital and Medical Program of the Uniformed Service. Now known as Tricare.
CHIP:Â Children's Health Insurance Program
CIN:Â Clinically Integrated Network
CMS:Â Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (previously HCFA)
COB:Â Coordination of Benefits
COBRA:Â Consolidated Omnibus Reconciliation Act (extension of coverage)
COI:Â Certificate of Insurance
CPT:Â Current Procedural Terminology (Level 1 codes)
DMAS:Â Department of Medical Assistance Services
DME:Â Durable Medical Equipment
DOL:Â Department of Labor
DOS:Â Date of Service
E & L:Â Exclusions and Limitations
EAP:Â Employee Assistance Program
EMT:Â Emergency Medical Technician
ENT: Ears, Nose and Throat
EOB:Â Explanation of Benefits
EOC:Â Evidence of Coverage (HMO / POS Plan Documentation)
ER:Â Emergency Room
ERISA:Â Employee Retirement Income Security Act
FAMIS:Â Family Access to Medical Insurance Security Plan
FDA:Â Food and Drug Administration
FEHBP:Â Federal Employee Health Benefit Plan
FFS:Â Fee for Service
FMLA:Â Family and Medical Leave Act
FSA:Â Flexible Spending Account
HDHP:Â High-Deductible Health Plan
HEDIS®: Health Plan Employer Data and Information Set
HIPAA:Â Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act
HMO:Â Health Maintenance Organization
HRA:Â Health Reimbursement Account
HSA:Â Health Savings Account
ICU:Â Intensive Care Unit
IRF:Â Inpatient Reading Fee
IUD:Â Intrauterine Device
IV:Â Intravenous
JCAHO:Â Joint Commission on the Accreditation of Hospital Organizations
LOS:Â Length of Stay
LPN:Â Licensed Practical Nurse
LTD:Â Long Term Disability
Max:Â Maximum
MD:Â Medical Doctor
MOOP:Â Maximum Out of Pocket
MRI:Â Magnetic Resonance Imaging
NAIC:Â National Association of Insurance Commissioners
NCQA:Â National Committee for Quality Assurance
NIMH:Â National Institute of Mental Health
Non-par:Â Not participating (out-of-network)
NPI:Â National Provider Identifier
OB:Â Obstetrician
OOA:Â Out of Area
OOP:Â Out of Pocket
OSHA:Â Occupational Safety and Health Act
OTC:Â Over the Counter
OV:Â Office Visit
P&T:Â Pharmacy & Therapeutics Committee
Par:Â Participating
PCMH:Â Patient Centered Medical Home
PCP:Â Primary Care Physician
PHA:Â Personal Health Assessment
PHI:Â Protected Health Information
POA:Â Power of Attorney
POS:Â Point of Service
PPACA:Â Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act
PPO:Â Preferred Provider Organization
Pre-auth:Â Pre-Authorization
Pre-X:Â Pre-existing Conditions
PSA:Â Prostate Screening Antigen
PT:Â Physical Therapy
QHP:Â Qualified Health Plan
Remit:Â Remittance
Retro:Â Retroactive
RN:Â Registered Nurse
ROI:Â Release of Information
RX:Â Prescription
SBC:Â Uniform Summary of Benefits and Coverage
SF:Â Self-Funded
SNF:Â Skilled Nursing Facility
ST:Â Speech Therapy
STD:Â Short-Term Disability
TEFRA:Â Tax Equity and Fiscal Responsibility Act of 1982
TPA:Â Third-Party Administrator
TRICARE:Â Managed Healthcare System for military families
UCC:Â Urgent Care Center
URI:Â Upper Respiratory Infection
VA Hospital:Â Veterans Administration Hospital
WC:Â Worker's Compensation
WH:Â Withhold
WIC: Women, Infants and Children (supplemental food program)
YTD:Â Year to Date