A/R — Accounts receivable
Billing & coding · Money owed to a provider for services already delivered or billed.
In infection reporting, AR may mean antimicrobial resistance.
Searchable USA Healthcare Acronym Database
TimeTrex reference library · United States
USA HealthcareAcronym Database
Make sense of the letters behind healthcare. Find clear meanings across patient care, insurance, health technology, and the workforce.
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A1C — Hemoglobin A1C
Tests & imaging · A blood test reflecting average blood glucose over roughly the previous three months.
ABG — Arterial blood gas
Tests & imaging · A blood test measuring oxygen, carbon dioxide, and acid-base balance.
ABN — Advance Beneficiary Notice of Noncoverage
Billing & coding · A notice informing an Original Medicare beneficiary that Medicare may not pay for an item or service.
This is different from an EOB or a final coverage decision.
ACA — Affordable Care Act
Coverage & benefits · Federal health reform law affecting coverage, insurance markets, and access to care.
ACA is a common short name; PPACA refers to the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.
ACE — Angiotensin-converting enzyme
Clinical conditions · An enzyme involved in blood pressure regulation; ACE inhibitors are a medication class.
ACH — Acute care hospital
Public health & infection · A hospital providing care for acute illness or injury.
ACL — Anterior cruciate ligament
Clinical conditions · A ligament stabilizing the knee joint.
In information security, ACL can mean access control list.
ACO — Accountable care organization
Coverage & benefits · A group of providers working together to coordinate care and take responsibility for quality and spending.
ADHD — Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder
Behavioral health · A neurodevelopmental condition involving persistent inattention, hyperactivity, or impulsivity.
ADN — Associate degree in nursing
Workforce & credentials · An associate-level nursing degree that can support entry to registered nursing.
ADT — Admission, discharge, and transfer
Health IT & data · Events and messages describing a patient's movement into, out of, or within a care setting.
AE — Adverse event
Research & evidence · An unfavorable medical occurrence during a study or treatment period.
An adverse event does not by itself establish that the intervention caused it.
AFib — Atrial fibrillation
Clinical conditions · An irregular heart rhythm originating in the upper chambers of the heart.
AHA — American Hospital Association
Organizations · An organization representing hospitals and health systems.
AHA also refers to the American Heart Association in cardiovascular care.
AHRQ — Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality
Organizations · A federal agency associated with research and tools to improve healthcare quality and safety.
AIDS — Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome
Clinical conditions · The most advanced stage of HIV infection, associated with severe immune-system damage.
AKI — Acute kidney injury
Clinical conditions · A sudden reduction in kidney function.
AKS — Anti-Kickback Statute
Privacy & compliance · A federal law addressing remuneration intended to induce or reward federal healthcare program business.
This glossary does not determine whether an arrangement violates the law.
ALF — Assisted living facility
Care settings & teams · A residential setting providing assistance with daily activities and related services.
Services and licensing rules vary by state.
ALP — Alkaline phosphatase
Tests & imaging · An enzyme measured in blood testing to help assess liver, bile duct, or bone conditions.
ALS — Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
Clinical conditions · A progressive disease affecting nerve cells that control voluntary muscles.
In emergency response, ALS can also mean advanced life support.
ALT — Alanine aminotransferase
Tests & imaging · An enzyme measured in blood testing, commonly as part of a liver assessment.
AMA — American Medical Association
Organizations · A physician association that maintains Current Procedural Terminology.
In clinical records, AMA can instead mean against medical advice.
AMD — Age-related macular degeneration
Clinical conditions · A condition affecting the central part of the retina and central vision.
AMI — Acute myocardial infarction
Clinical conditions · A heart attack involving injury to heart muscle from inadequate blood flow.
ANDA — Abbreviated new drug application
Research & evidence · An FDA application pathway used for generic drug approval.
AODM — Adult-onset diabetes mellitus
Clinical conditions · An older term generally used for type 2 diabetes.
Historical wording; type 2 diabetes can also occur in younger people.
APC — Ambulatory payment classification
Billing & coding · A grouping used in Medicare's hospital outpatient payment system.
APHL — Association of Public Health Laboratories
Public health & infection · An organization supporting public health laboratories and laboratory systems.
API — Application programming interface
Health IT & data · A defined way for software systems to request data or services from one another.
APM — Alternative payment model
Quality & safety · A payment approach that links payment to quality and cost outcomes.
APRN — Advanced practice registered nurse
Workforce & credentials · A registered nurse with advanced education and a recognized advanced practice role.
APTC — Advance premium tax credit
Coverage & benefits · A tax credit paid in advance to reduce eligible Marketplace insurance premiums.
AR — Antimicrobial resistance
Public health & infection · The ability of a microorganism to withstand an antimicrobial treatment.
In finance, AR can mean accounts receivable.
ARDS — Acute respiratory distress syndrome
Clinical conditions · A serious lung condition involving inflammation, fluid accumulation, and impaired oxygen exchange.
ASC — Ambulatory surgical center
Care settings & teams · A facility providing surgical services to patients who generally do not need an inpatient stay.
AST — Antimicrobial susceptibility test
Public health & infection · A test assessing how a microorganism responds to antimicrobial agents.
AST also means aspartate aminotransferase in blood chemistry.
AST — Aspartate aminotransferase
Tests & imaging · An enzyme measured in blood tests that can reflect liver or other tissue injury.
In microbiology, AST means antimicrobial susceptibility test.
ATO — Authority to operate
Privacy & compliance · Formal authorization to operate a system after review of its security risk.
AVM — Arteriovenous malformation
Clinical conditions · An abnormal connection between arteries and veins.
AWV — Annual wellness visit
Billing & coding · A Medicare visit focused on prevention planning and health risk assessment.
It is not the same as a routine comprehensive physical exam.
BA — Business associate
Privacy & compliance · A person or organization performing certain functions involving PHI for a HIPAA-covered entity.
BAA — Business associate agreement
Privacy & compliance · A contract setting required responsibilities for a business associate handling PHI.
BID — Twice daily
Medicines & shorthand · A Latin-derived abbreviation used in medication instructions.
Recognition only. Confirm the complete prescription and timing with a clinician or pharmacist.
BLA — Biologics license application
Research & evidence · An application seeking FDA permission to market a biological product.
BLS — Basic life support
Procedures & treatment · Foundational emergency care skills for cardiac arrest and other life-threatening emergencies.
In labor statistics, BLS means Bureau of Labor Statistics.
BLS — Bureau of Labor Statistics
Organizations · The federal statistical agency providing information about employment, occupations, and prices.
In emergency care, BLS means basic life support.
BMI — Body mass index
Tests & imaging · A weight-to-height measure used as one part of health assessment.
BMI does not directly measure body fat or determine health by itself.
BMP — Basic metabolic panel
Tests & imaging · A blood test panel measuring selected electrolytes, glucose, and kidney-related markers.
BP — Blood pressure
Tests & imaging · The pressure of circulating blood against artery walls.
BPD — Borderline personality disorder
Behavioral health · A mental health condition involving difficulties with emotion regulation, self-image, and relationships.
In neonatal care, BPD can mean bronchopulmonary dysplasia.
BPD — Bronchopulmonary dysplasia
Clinical conditions · A chronic lung condition affecting some infants, especially those born prematurely.
BPD has a different meaning in behavioral health.
BPH — Benign prostatic hyperplasia
Clinical conditions · Noncancerous enlargement of the prostate gland.
Hyperplasia is the preferred expansion; older lists may say hypertrophy.
BPS — Binding Parameter Specification
Health IT & data · A file describing value-set bindings and metadata for electronic clinical quality measures.
BSN — Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Workforce & credentials · An undergraduate nursing degree.
BUN — Blood urea nitrogen
Tests & imaging · A blood measurement used with other findings to assess kidney function and related conditions.
C-CDA — Consolidated Clinical Document Architecture
Health IT & data · An HL7 implementation guide for exchanging structured clinical documents.
C-SNP — Chronic condition special needs plan
Coverage & benefits · A Medicare Advantage special needs plan serving people with certain chronic conditions.
Ca — Calcium
Tests & imaging · A mineral measured in blood tests and involved in bone, muscle, and nerve function.
Capitalization is not a reliable way to distinguish calcium from cancer in informal notes.
CA — Cancer
Clinical conditions · Shorthand that can refer to cancer in a clinical record.
CA or Ca can also refer to calcium. Confirm the surrounding text.
CA-125 — Cancer antigen 125
Tests & imaging · A protein that can be measured in blood as part of evaluating or monitoring certain conditions.
A result does not diagnose or exclude cancer by itself.
CABG — Coronary artery bypass graft
Procedures & treatment · Surgery creating another route for blood to flow around narrowed or blocked coronary arteries.
CAD — Coronary artery disease
Clinical conditions · Disease involving the arteries that supply blood to the heart muscle.
CAH — Critical access hospital
Care settings & teams · A Medicare hospital designation with specific rural access and participation requirements.
CAHPS — Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems
Quality & safety · A family of surveys measuring people's experiences with healthcare services.
CAT — Computerized axial tomography
Tests & imaging · An older name for computed tomography, an imaging method using X-rays and computer processing.
CAUTI — Catheter-associated urinary tract infection
Public health & infection · A urinary infection associated with an indwelling urinary catheter under specified surveillance criteria.
Clinical diagnosis and surveillance definitions are not interchangeable.
CBC — Complete blood count
Tests & imaging · A laboratory test measuring several types and characteristics of blood cells.
CBT — Cognitive behavioral therapy
Behavioral health · Psychotherapy that helps people recognize and change unhelpful thought and behavior patterns.
CCD — Continuity of Care Document
Health IT & data · A standardized clinical summary document used to exchange patient information.
CCI — Correct coding initiative
Billing & coding · An abbreviation used for coding edit programs; in Medicare, see NCCI.
CCM — Chronic care management
Billing & coding · Care management services for eligible patients with multiple chronic conditions.
CCN — CMS Certification Number
Billing & coding · An identifier used for Medicare-certified institutional providers.
Do not confuse a CCN with an NPI.
CCU — Coronary care unit
Care settings & teams · A unit specializing in monitoring and care of serious heart conditions.
CCU may also mean critical care unit; local usage varies.
CDA — Clinical Document Architecture
Health IT & data · An HL7 standard defining the structure and semantics of clinical documents.
CDC — Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Organizations · The federal public health agency focused on disease prevention and health protection.
CDM — Charge description master
Billing & coding · A provider's list of billable services and associated charges.
CDS — Clinical decision support
Health IT & data · Information and tools presented in a care workflow to help clinicians make decisions.
CDSS — Clinical decision support system
Health IT & data · Software that delivers decision support such as alerts, reminders, or clinical guidance.
CE — Covered entity
Privacy & compliance · A health plan, healthcare clearinghouse, or qualifying provider subject to HIPAA.
In professional development, CE can mean continuing education.
CEHRT — Certified electronic health record technology
Health IT & data · EHR technology certified under the applicable federal certification criteria.
Certification requirements vary by program and reporting period.
CEU — Continuing education unit
Workforce & credentials · A unit used to document participation in qualifying continuing education.
Acceptance depends on the licensing or credentialing body.
CfC — Condition for Coverage
Privacy & compliance · A federal participation requirement used for certain supplier and facility types.
CMS uses CfC; some local materials use other abbreviations.
CHD — Congenital heart disease
Clinical conditions · A structural heart condition present from birth.
CHD can also mean coronary heart disease in cardiovascular materials.
CHF — Congestive heart failure
Clinical conditions · Heart failure associated with fluid congestion; often used more broadly for heart failure.
CHIP — Children's Health Insurance Program
Coverage & benefits · Coverage for eligible children whose families meet their state's program rules.
CHPL — Certified Health IT Product List
Health IT & data · The federal listing of health IT products certified under the health IT certification program.
CI — Confidence interval
Research & evidence · A statistical interval expressing uncertainty around an estimated quantity.
Its interpretation depends on the statistical method and assumptions.
CIA — Corporate integrity agreement
Privacy & compliance · An agreement imposing compliance obligations on an organization resolving certain enforcement matters.
CIS — Clinical information system
Health IT & data · Software that supports access to clinical records and patient care information.
CKD — Chronic kidney disease
Clinical conditions · Long-term kidney damage or reduced kidney function.
CLABSI — Central line-associated bloodstream infection
Public health & infection · A bloodstream infection associated with a central line under specified surveillance criteria.
Use the current NHSN protocol for reporting.
CLFS — Clinical Laboratory Fee Schedule
Billing & coding · The Medicare payment schedule for specified clinical diagnostic laboratory tests.
CLIA — Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments
Privacy & compliance · Federal standards governing specified laboratory testing of human specimens.
CME — Continuing medical education
Workforce & credentials · Educational activities that maintain or develop clinicians' professional knowledge and competence.
CMHC — Community mental health center
Care settings & teams · An organization providing community-based mental health services.
CMI — Case mix index
Billing & coding · A measure summarizing the relative resource intensity of a set of patients or discharges.
Calculation depends on the payment or reporting system.
CMP — Civil monetary penalty
Privacy & compliance · A financial penalty imposed under applicable civil enforcement authority.
CMP — Comprehensive metabolic panel
Tests & imaging · A blood test panel assessing selected metabolic, kidney, and liver-related markers.
In compliance, CMP can mean civil monetary penalty.
CMS — Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
Organizations · The federal agency administering Medicare and overseeing Medicaid and other health coverage programs.
CMV — Cytomegalovirus
Clinical conditions · A common virus that can cause serious illness in certain higher-risk people.
CNA — Certified nursing assistant
Workforce & credentials · A credentialed nursing assistant helping patients with basic care and daily activities.
Titles and certification requirements vary by state.
CNM — Certified nurse-midwife
Workforce & credentials · An advanced practice nurse providing midwifery and related healthcare services.
CNS — Central nervous system
Clinical conditions · The brain and spinal cord.
In staffing, CNS may mean clinical nurse specialist.
CNS — Clinical nurse specialist
Workforce & credentials · An advanced practice nursing role with expertise in a specialized area of care.
CNS can also mean central nervous system or coagulase-negative staphylococci.
CNS — Coagulase-negative staphylococci
Public health & infection · A group of bacteria that can be relevant in infection surveillance and clinical cultures.
CNS also means central nervous system or clinical nurse specialist.
COB — Coordination of benefits
Coverage & benefits · The process used to determine which health plan pays first when a person has multiple plans.
COBRA — Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act
Coverage & benefits · A federal law that includes temporary continuation of certain employer health coverage after qualifying events.
Eligibility, notice duties, duration, and cost depend on the situation.
CoP — Condition of Participation
Privacy & compliance · A health and safety requirement certain providers must meet to participate in Medicare or Medicaid.
COPD — Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
Clinical conditions · A group of lung conditions that cause persistent airflow limitation.
CORF — Comprehensive outpatient rehabilitation facility
Care settings & teams · A Medicare-certified setting providing coordinated outpatient rehabilitation services.
COVID-19 — Coronavirus disease 2019
Public health & infection · The disease caused by SARS-CoV-2.
CPAP — Continuous positive airway pressure
Procedures & treatment · Breathing support that supplies air at a continuous positive pressure.
CPK — Creatine phosphokinase
Tests & imaging · An enzyme measured to help evaluate muscle injury and related conditions.
CPOE — Computerized provider order entry
Health IT & data · Electronic entry of medication, laboratory, imaging, and other clinical orders.
CPR — Cardiopulmonary resuscitation
Procedures & treatment · An emergency response using chest compressions, with ventilation when appropriate, during cardiac arrest.
This entry defines the term and is not resuscitation training.
CPT — Current Procedural Terminology
Billing & coding · A standardized coding system for medical services and procedures maintained by the AMA.
CPT is a registered trademark of the American Medical Association. This reference does not reproduce code sets.
CQL — Clinical Quality Language
Health IT & data · A language for expressing clinical logic used in decision support and quality measurement.
CQM — Clinical quality measure
Quality & safety · A measure assessing processes, outcomes, experience, or structures of care.
CRF — Chronic renal failure
Clinical conditions · An older term for chronic loss of kidney function.
Modern records often use chronic kidney disease with a specified stage.
CRNA — Certified registered nurse anesthetist
Workforce & credentials · An advanced practice nurse specializing in anesthesia care.
CRP — C-reactive protein
Tests & imaging · A protein measured in blood as a marker of inflammation.
CSF — Cerebrospinal fluid
Tests & imaging · Fluid surrounding the brain and spinal cord that may be sampled for testing.
CSR — Cost-sharing reduction
Coverage & benefits · A Marketplace benefit that lowers eligible enrollees' deductibles, copayments, and other out-of-pocket costs.
CSTE — Council of State and Territorial Epidemiologists
Public health & infection · An organization supporting applied public health epidemiology.
CVA — Cerebrovascular accident
Clinical conditions · A medical term for stroke.
CXR — Chest X-ray
Tests & imaging · An X-ray image used to examine structures in the chest.
D-SNP — Dual eligible special needs plan
Coverage & benefits · A Medicare Advantage special needs plan for people eligible for both Medicare and Medicaid.
D&C — Dilation and curettage
Procedures & treatment · A procedure involving dilation of the cervix and removal of tissue from the uterus.
DA — Device associated
Public health & infection · A surveillance descriptor connecting an infection or event with a medical device.
DBT — Dialectical behavior therapy
Behavioral health · A psychotherapy approach emphasizing skills such as emotion regulation and distress tolerance.
DDS — Doctor of Dental Surgery
Workforce & credentials · A professional dental degree.
DEA — Drug Enforcement Administration
Organizations · A federal agency responsible for enforcing controlled-substance laws.
The agency's name is Administration, not Agency.
DICOM — Digital Imaging and Communications in Medicine
Health IT & data · A standard for medical images and related information exchange.
DJD — Degenerative joint disease
Clinical conditions · Another term for osteoarthritis.
DKA — Diabetic ketoacidosis
Clinical conditions · A serious diabetes complication involving ketone buildup and metabolic acidosis.
DM — Diabetes mellitus
Clinical conditions · A group of conditions involving persistently elevated blood glucose.
DMD — Doctor of Dental Medicine
Workforce & credentials · A professional dental degree.
DDS and DMD are equivalent professional dental degrees in the United States.
DME — Durable medical equipment
Coverage & benefits · Reusable medical equipment, such as walkers and certain home oxygen equipment.
Coverage depends on the plan and medical-necessity rules.
DMI — Data Modernization Initiative
Public health & infection · CDC's effort to improve public health data infrastructure and use.
DNP — Doctor of Nursing Practice
Workforce & credentials · A practice-focused doctoral nursing degree.
A DNP degree does not by itself identify a specific APRN role.
DNR — Do not resuscitate
Procedures & treatment · An order specifying that cardiopulmonary resuscitation should not be attempted in specified circumstances.
A DNR order does not automatically mean no other treatment.
DO — Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine
Workforce & credentials · A professional medical degree held by osteopathic physicians.
DOS — Date of service
Billing & coding · The date a healthcare service was provided, used on claims and clinical records.
dQM — Digital quality measure
Quality & safety · A quality measure drawing on standardized digital data to support measurement.
DRG — Diagnosis-related group
Billing & coding · A patient classification used in hospital payment and resource-use analysis.
Different systems use different DRG methods.
DSH — Disproportionate share hospital
Billing & coding · A hospital payment designation connected with serving low-income patients.
Medicare and Medicaid DSH programs have different rules.
DTP — Diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis
Medicines & shorthand · An abbreviation used for a combination vaccine against these three diseases.
Vaccine formulations and current schedules must be checked separately.
DUA — Data use agreement
Privacy & compliance · An agreement governing specified uses and safeguards for shared data.
Under HIPAA, a DUA is required for disclosure of a limited data set.
DVT — Deep vein thrombosis
Clinical conditions · A blood clot in a deep vein, commonly in a leg.
Dx — Diagnosis
Medicines & shorthand · Shorthand for identification of a disease or condition.
E/M — Evaluation and management
Billing & coding · A family of services involving patient evaluation and ongoing medical management.
ECG — Electrocardiogram
Tests & imaging · A recording of the heart's electrical activity.
ECG and EKG are alternate abbreviations for the same test.
ECHO — Echocardiogram
Tests & imaging · An ultrasound examination of the heart.
eCQM — Electronic clinical quality measure
Quality & safety · A quality measure specified for calculation using electronically collected clinical data.
ED — Emergency department
Care settings & teams · A hospital department evaluating and treating urgent and emergency conditions.
ED can also mean erectile dysfunction in a clinical note.
EDI — Electronic data interchange
Billing & coding · The exchange of structured administrative data, including healthcare claims and eligibility transactions.
EEG — Electroencephalogram
Tests & imaging · A recording of electrical activity in the brain.
EFT — Electronic funds transfer
Billing & coding · An electronic payment moving funds between financial accounts.
EFT moves money; an ERA explains a payment or adjustment.
eGFR — Estimated glomerular filtration rate
Tests & imaging · A calculated estimate of the kidneys' filtering capacity.
EHB — Essential health benefits
Coverage & benefits · Categories of services that certain health insurance plans must cover.
EHI — Electronic health information
Health IT & data · A term for electronic health information whose scope depends on the applicable regulation or use.
The information-blocking definition and HIPAA terminology require context.
EHR — Electronic health record
Health IT & data · A digital patient record supporting clinical care and authorized information sharing.
Related to EMR; usage varies, with EHR commonly emphasizing broader information exchange.
ELM — Expression Logical Model
Health IT & data · A machine-readable representation of Clinical Quality Language logic.
EMG — Electromyography
Tests & imaging · Testing that evaluates electrical activity in muscles.
EMR — Electronic medical record
Health IT & data · A digital medical record often associated with a particular practice or organization.
EHR and EMR are sometimes used interchangeably.
EMS — Emergency medical services
Care settings & teams · Services that provide emergency assessment, treatment, and transport outside or between facilities.
EMT — Emergency medical technician
Care settings & teams · A clinician trained to provide emergency care within the scope of the credential.
EMTALA — Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act
Privacy & compliance · A federal law imposing specified emergency screening, stabilization, and transfer duties on participating hospitals.
Applicability and obligations depend on the circumstances.
ENT — Ear, nose, and throat
Care settings & teams · A specialty focused on conditions of the ear, nose, throat, and related head and neck structures.
EOB — Explanation of benefits
Coverage & benefits · A statement showing how an insurer processed a claim and allocated costs.
An EOB is not itself a bill.
EOC — Evidence of coverage
Coverage & benefits · A document explaining a health plan's benefits, costs, exclusions, and rules.
ePHI — Electronic protected health information
Health IT & data · Protected health information created, received, maintained, or transmitted electronically.
EPO — Exclusive provider organization
Coverage & benefits · A plan type that generally covers care within its network, with exceptions such as emergencies.
EPSDT — Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnostic, and Treatment
Coverage & benefits · Medicaid's comprehensive preventive and treatment benefit for eligible people under age 21.
ERA — Electronic remittance advice
Billing & coding · An electronic explanation of how a payer processed claims and payments.
ERCP — Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography
Procedures & treatment · A procedure combining endoscopy and imaging to examine or treat bile and pancreatic duct problems.
ESR — Erythrocyte sedimentation rate
Tests & imaging · A blood test used as a nonspecific indicator of inflammation.
ESRD — End-stage renal disease
Care settings & teams · Advanced kidney failure; the acronym also identifies certain Medicare programs and facility types.
FCA — False Claims Act
Privacy & compliance · A federal law addressing knowingly false claims for government payment and related conduct.
FDA — Food and Drug Administration
Organizations · The federal agency regulating drugs, medical devices, and other products within its authority.
FFS — Fee for service
Billing & coding · A payment model in which individual covered services are paid separately.
FHIR — Fast Healthcare Interoperability Resources
Health IT & data · An HL7 standard for exchanging health data using modular resources and modern web approaches.
Often pronounced fire.
FLSA — Fair Labor Standards Act
Workforce & credentials · The federal law establishing minimum wage, overtime, recordkeeping, and child labor standards.
FMEA — Failure mode and effects analysis
Quality & safety · A prospective method for identifying potential failures and their consequences.
FMLA — Family and Medical Leave Act
Workforce & credentials · A federal law providing qualifying workers with job-protected leave for specified reasons.
Eligibility and employer coverage must be assessed separately.
FNP — Family nurse practitioner
Workforce & credentials · A nurse practitioner role focused on primary care across the lifespan.
FPL — Federal poverty level
Coverage & benefits · An income benchmark used in eligibility calculations for various health and assistance programs.
The applicable year and household rules matter.
FQHC — Federally qualified health center
Care settings & teams · A health center meeting federal program requirements and serving community healthcare needs.
FSA — Flexible spending account
Coverage & benefits · An employer benefit account used to pay eligible expenses with tax-advantaged funds.
Health FSAs have plan-specific rules and are different from HSAs.
FSH — Follicle-stimulating hormone
Tests & imaging · A hormone measured in assessments of reproductive and endocrine function.
FTE — Full-time equivalent
Workforce & credentials · A staffing measure expressing total work hours in units of a full-time schedule.
Some benefits sources use FTE for full-time employee; confirm the definition and calculation.
FWA — Fraud, waste, and abuse
Privacy & compliance · Terms used in healthcare program integrity to describe improper or inefficient conduct.
GAD — Generalized anxiety disorder
Behavioral health · A condition involving persistent, excessive worry that interferes with daily life.
GERD — Gastroesophageal reflux disease
Clinical conditions · A condition involving repeated reflux of stomach contents into the esophagus.
GFR — Glomerular filtration rate
Tests & imaging · A measure or estimate of how well the kidneys filter blood.
GHP — Group health plan
Coverage & benefits · Health coverage provided to a group, commonly through an employer or employee organization.
GI — Gastrointestinal
Clinical conditions · Relating to the digestive tract.
GME — Graduate medical education
Billing & coding · Training after medical school, including residency; also used in hospital reimbursement.
GPCI — Geographic practice cost index
Billing & coding · A factor adjusting Medicare physician payments for geographic differences in practice costs.
GPO — Group purchasing organization
Workforce & credentials · An organization arranging purchasing contracts for participating organizations.
GU — Genitourinary
Clinical conditions · Relating to the urinary and reproductive systems.
HAC — Hospital-acquired condition
Quality & safety · A condition that develops during a hospital stay; specified categories are used in payment programs.
HAI — Healthcare-associated infection
Public health & infection · An infection associated with receiving care in a healthcare setting.
HAI is broader than hospital-acquired infection.
HAV — Hepatitis A virus
Clinical conditions · A virus that causes hepatitis A, an infection affecting the liver.
HBV — Hepatitis B virus
Clinical conditions · A virus that causes hepatitis B, which may become a chronic liver infection.
HCAHPS — Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems
Quality & safety · A standardized survey of patients' experiences during inpatient hospital care.
HCBS — Home and community-based services
Coverage & benefits · Services that support people in homes and community settings rather than institutions.
HCC — Hierarchical condition category
Billing & coding · A diagnosis grouping used in certain risk-adjustment models.
In oncology, HCC can mean hepatocellular carcinoma.
HCPCS — Healthcare Common Procedure Coding System
Billing & coding · A coding system used to identify healthcare services, supplies, equipment, and procedures.
The current CMS expansion uses Procedure; older lists sometimes say Procedural.
Hct — Hematocrit
Tests & imaging · The proportion of blood volume made up of red blood cells.
HCV — Hepatitis C virus
Clinical conditions · A virus that causes hepatitis C, which can lead to chronic liver disease.
HDHP — High deductible health plan
Coverage & benefits · A plan with a higher deductible; qualifying plans may support HSA contributions.
A high deductible alone does not establish HSA eligibility.
HDL — High-density lipoprotein
Tests & imaging · A lipoprotein involved in cholesterol transport and measured in lipid testing.
HEDIS — Healthcare Effectiveness Data and Information Set
Quality & safety · NCQA's measurement set for assessing healthcare quality and performance.
Older references may use an obsolete expansion.
Hgb — Hemoglobin
Tests & imaging · The oxygen-carrying protein in red blood cells, measured in blood tests.
HHA — Home health agency
Care settings & teams · An organization providing healthcare services in patients' homes.
HHA can also mean home health aide in staffing contexts.
HHA — Home health aide
Workforce & credentials · A worker helping people with personal care and daily needs in the home.
HHA can also mean home health agency.
HHRG — Home health resource group
Billing & coding · A grouping used in Medicare home health payment classification.
HHS — U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Organizations · The federal department responsible for a broad range of health and human services programs.
HIE — Health information exchange
Health IT & data · The sharing of electronic health information among authorized participants and systems.
HIE may also refer to an organization enabling the exchange.
HIM — Health information management
Health IT & data · The practice of managing health records, data quality, privacy, and access.
HIPAA — Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act
Privacy & compliance · A federal law that includes standards for health information privacy, security, and transactions.
HIPPA is a common misspelling. HIPAA does not apply to every person or organization holding health information.
HISP — Health information service provider
Health IT & data · An organization enabling secure health information messaging, often through Direct protocols.
HIT — Health information technology
Health IT & data · Technology used to collect, manage, exchange, and use health information.
HITECH — Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act
Privacy & compliance · A federal law supporting health IT adoption and strengthening certain HIPAA protections.
HIV — Human immunodeficiency virus
Clinical conditions · A virus that attacks the immune system and can cause AIDS if untreated.
HIV infection and AIDS are not interchangeable terms.
HL7 — Health Level Seven International
Organizations · A standards development organization focused on health information exchange.
HL7 can also refer informally to the organization's messaging standards.
HMO — Health maintenance organization
Coverage & benefits · A health plan that generally coordinates care through a contracted provider network.
Referral and out-of-network rules vary by plan.
HPRD — Hours per resident day
Workforce & credentials · A staffing measure relating reported staff hours to the number of residents served.
Use the relevant reporting program's numerator and census definitions.
HPV — Human papillomavirus
Clinical conditions · A group of viruses, some of which can cause warts or contribute to certain cancers.
HQMF — Health Quality Measure Format
Health IT & data · An HL7 standard for representing a quality measure as an electronic document.
HR — Hazard ratio
Research & evidence · A ratio comparing event rates over time between groups under a specified analysis.
In vital signs, HR means heart rate; in staffing, HR means human resources.
HR — Heart rate
Tests & imaging · The number of heartbeats in a unit of time, commonly one minute.
HR — Human resources
Workforce & credentials · The organizational function supporting employment, staffing, benefits, and personnel processes.
HR also means heart rate or hazard ratio in other contexts.
HRA — Health reimbursement arrangement
Coverage & benefits · An employer-funded arrangement that reimburses eligible health expenses under its rules.
Also called a health reimbursement account; it differs from an HSA.
HRRP — Hospital Readmissions Reduction Program
Quality & safety · A Medicare program addressing excess readmissions for specified conditions and procedures.
HRSA — Health Resources and Services Administration
Organizations · A federal agency supporting access to healthcare and the health workforce.
HRT — Hormone replacement therapy
Procedures & treatment · Treatment using hormones to replace or supplement hormones produced by the body.
HSA — Health savings account
Coverage & benefits · A tax-advantaged account for qualified medical expenses available to eligible individuals.
Eligibility and contribution limits should be checked separately.
HTN — Hypertension
Clinical conditions · Persistently high blood pressure.
HVBP — Hospital Value-Based Purchasing
Quality & safety · A Medicare program adjusting hospital payments using selected quality and cost measures.
I-SNP — Institutional special needs plan
Coverage & benefits · A Medicare Advantage special needs plan for eligible people needing an institutional level of care.
IBD — Inflammatory bowel disease
Clinical conditions · A group of inflammatory intestinal conditions, including Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis.
IBD and IBS are different conditions.
IBS — Irritable bowel syndrome
Clinical conditions · A disorder of gut-brain interaction associated with abdominal symptoms and changes in bowel habits.
IBS is different from inflammatory bowel disease.
ICD — Implantable cardioverter-defibrillator
Procedures & treatment · An implanted device that monitors heart rhythm and can treat dangerous arrhythmias.
In coding, ICD means International Classification of Diseases.
ICD — International Classification of Diseases
Billing & coding · The WHO classification system underlying many diagnosis and health statistics code sets.
In cardiology, ICD can mean implantable cardioverter-defibrillator.
ICD-10-CM — International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision, Clinical Modification
Billing & coding · The U.S. clinical modification used to report diagnoses.
Distinct from ICD-10-PCS, which is used for inpatient hospital procedures.
ICD-10-PCS — International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision, Procedure Coding System
Billing & coding · The U.S. system used to report inpatient hospital procedures.
ICHRA — Individual coverage health reimbursement arrangement
Coverage & benefits · An employer arrangement that can reimburse eligible individual health insurance premiums and medical expenses.
ICU — Intensive care unit
Care settings & teams · A hospital unit providing close monitoring and advanced support for critically ill patients.
IDDM — Insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus
Clinical conditions · An older classification usually associated with type 1 diabetes.
Historical wording; taking insulin alone does not establish a diabetes type.
IDT — Interdisciplinary team
Care settings & teams · A care team combining professionals from multiple disciplines.
IHS — Indian Health Service
Organizations · A federal health system serving eligible American Indian and Alaska Native people.
IM — Intramuscular
Medicines & shorthand · A route that delivers a medicine into a muscle.
Recognition only; this entry is not an administration instruction.
IME — Indirect medical education
Billing & coding · A Medicare hospital payment adjustment related to teaching activity.
Other settings may use IME for independent medical examination.
IND — Investigational new drug
Research & evidence · An FDA regulatory submission supporting specified clinical investigation of a drug.
INR — International normalized ratio
Tests & imaging · A standardized calculation based on prothrombin time, used in clotting assessment.
IPF — Inpatient psychiatric facility
Care settings & teams · A facility or unit providing inpatient psychiatric care.
IPPS — Inpatient Prospective Payment System
Billing & coding · Medicare's prospective payment system for many acute inpatient hospital stays.
IQR — Inpatient Quality Reporting
Quality & safety · A hospital reporting program for selected inpatient quality measures.
In statistics, IQR also means interquartile range.
IR — Incident response
Privacy & compliance · Processes used to detect, investigate, contain, and recover from a security incident.
In clinical care, IR may mean interventional radiology.
IRB — Institutional review board
Research & evidence · A committee reviewing research involving human participants to protect their rights and welfare.
IRF — Inpatient rehabilitation facility
Care settings & teams · A facility providing intensive inpatient rehabilitation services.
IU — International unit
Medicines & shorthand · Error-prone shorthand for an international unit in medication communication.
Avoid in medication communication. Write international unit in full.
IUD — Intrauterine device
Procedures & treatment · A device placed in the uterus for contraception.
IV — Intravenous
Medicines & shorthand · A route into a vein.
Recognition only; route selection requires a complete clinical order.
IVP — Intravenous pyelogram
Tests & imaging · An imaging examination of the urinary tract using injected contrast material.
LCBI — Laboratory-confirmed bloodstream infection
Public health & infection · A bloodstream infection meeting specified laboratory and surveillance criteria.
LCD — Local coverage determination
Billing & coding · A Medicare Administrative Contractor's coverage decision within its jurisdiction.
LDL — Low-density lipoprotein
Tests & imaging · A lipoprotein involved in cholesterol transport and measured in lipid testing.
LDS — Limited data set
Privacy & compliance · A HIPAA data set excluding specified direct identifiers but retaining some identifying elements.
A limited data set is still PHI.
LEIE — List of Excluded Individuals and Entities
Privacy & compliance · The HHS OIG list of people and entities excluded from federal healthcare programs.
LFT — Liver function tests
Tests & imaging · A group of blood tests used to assess aspects of liver health.
Not every test in a liver panel directly measures liver function.
LIS — Low-income subsidy
Coverage & benefits · Assistance with Medicare Part D costs for eligible people, also called Extra Help.
LOINC — Logical Observation Identifiers Names and Codes
Health IT & data · A terminology for identifying laboratory tests, measurements, and clinical observations.
LOS — Length of stay
Billing & coding · The duration of a hospital or facility stay.
Count conventions differ by dataset and payer.
LPN — Licensed practical nurse
Workforce & credentials · A licensed nurse providing basic nursing care within state scope-of-practice rules.
LTACH — Long-term acute care hospital
Care settings & teams · A hospital caring for patients who require extended hospital-level treatment.
LTC — Long-term care
Coverage & benefits · Ongoing support with personal care and daily activities when a person needs assistance.
Long-term care coverage differs from short-term skilled care coverage.
LTCF — Long-term care facility
Care settings & teams · A facility providing ongoing care and support to residents with continuing needs.
LTSS — Long-term services and supports
Coverage & benefits · Services helping people with functional needs live as independently as possible.
LVN — Licensed vocational nurse
Workforce & credentials · The title used for practical nurses in some states, including California and Texas.
MA — Medical assistant
Workforce & credentials · A healthcare worker performing clinical and administrative tasks in care settings.
In coverage discussions, MA often means Medicare Advantage.
MA — Medicare Advantage
Coverage & benefits · Medicare coverage offered through approved private plans, also known as Part C.
In staffing documents, MA can instead mean medical assistant.
MA-PD — Medicare Advantage prescription drug plan
Coverage & benefits · A Medicare Advantage plan that includes Part D prescription drug coverage.
MAC — Medicare Administrative Contractor
Billing & coding · An organization contracted by Medicare to process claims and perform related functions.
MACRA — Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act of 2015
Quality & safety · A federal law that established the Quality Payment Program framework.
MAGI — Modified adjusted gross income
Coverage & benefits · An income measure used for certain Marketplace and Medicaid eligibility decisions.
Different programs may use different MAGI calculations.
MBI — Medicare Beneficiary Identifier
Billing & coding · The identifier on Medicare cards used in Medicare transactions.
In infection surveillance, MBI can mean mucosal barrier injury.
MBI — Mucosal barrier injury
Public health & infection · Damage to mucosal barriers, used in certain bloodstream infection surveillance classifications.
In Medicare administration, MBI means Medicare Beneficiary Identifier.
MCO — Managed care organization
Coverage & benefits · An organization arranging healthcare services through a managed care system.
MD — Doctor of Medicine
Workforce & credentials · A professional medical degree held by physicians.
A degree is distinct from current licensure and clinical privileges.
MDD — Major depressive disorder
Behavioral health · A depressive disorder involving sustained symptoms that affect functioning.
MEC — Minimum essential coverage
Coverage & benefits · A category of health coverage recognized under the Affordable Care Act.
MEC and minimum value are different concepts.
MFA — Multi-factor authentication
Privacy & compliance · Authentication requiring more than one distinct type of verification factor.
MgSO4 — Magnesium sulfate
Medicines & shorthand · A chemical formula that is error-prone when used as a medication abbreviation.
Avoid as medication shorthand. Write the complete intended drug name.
MI — Myocardial infarction
Clinical conditions · A heart attack involving damage to heart muscle.
MIPS — Merit-based Incentive Payment System
Quality & safety · A Quality Payment Program pathway that measures eligible clinicians' performance.
MLR — Medical loss ratio
Coverage & benefits · The share of premium revenue spent on clinical services and qualifying quality improvement.
MMG — Message mapping guide
Public health & infection · A guide defining data and message requirements for public health case notifications.
MMR — Measles, mumps, and rubella
Medicines & shorthand · An abbreviation used for a combination vaccine against these three viral diseases.
MMWR — Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report
Public health & infection · CDC's publication series reporting public health information and recommendations.
MPI — Master patient index
Health IT & data · An index used to connect patient identities and records across systems or encounters.
MRI — Magnetic resonance imaging
Tests & imaging · Imaging using magnetic fields and radio waves to produce detailed internal pictures.
MRI does not use ionizing X-rays.
MRSA — Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus
Public health & infection · A type of Staphylococcus aureus resistant to certain antibiotics.
MRSA can refer to colonization or infection; they are different states.
MS — Morphine sulfate
Medicines & shorthand · An ambiguous medication abbreviation that can be confused with magnesium sulfate or other meanings.
Avoid in medication communication. Write the complete intended drug name.
MS — Multiple sclerosis
Clinical conditions · A disease involving immune-mediated damage in the central nervous system.
MS has several meanings. Never infer a medication name from MS alone.
MS-DRG — Medicare Severity Diagnosis-Related Group
Billing & coding · The inpatient classification used in Medicare's acute hospital payment system.
MSA — Medical savings account
Coverage & benefits · An account arrangement associated with certain health coverage options.
Medicare MSAs and Archer MSAs are different arrangements.
MSN — Master of Science in Nursing
Workforce & credentials · A graduate nursing degree.
MSO4 — Morphine sulfate
Medicines & shorthand · An error-prone abbreviation for morphine sulfate.
Avoid in medication communication. Write the complete intended drug name.
MSP — Medicare Savings Program
Coverage & benefits · A state-administered program helping eligible people pay certain Medicare costs.
This meaning differs from Medicare Secondary Payer.
MSP — Medicare Secondary Payer
Coverage & benefits · Rules identifying situations where another insurer or entity pays before Medicare.
MSP can also mean Medicare Savings Program; confirm the document's context.
MUE — Medically unlikely edit
Billing & coding · A Medicare claim edit comparing reported units of service against defined limits.
MVP — MIPS Value Pathway
Quality & safety · A MIPS reporting option organizing measures around a specialty or clinical topic.
NAAT — Nucleic acid amplification test
Tests & imaging · A test that amplifies genetic material to help detect a target such as a pathogen.
PCR is one type of NAAT.
NCCI — National Correct Coding Initiative
Billing & coding · Medicare coding edits designed to promote correct coding and reduce improper payment.
NCD — National coverage determination
Billing & coding · A national Medicare decision about coverage for an item or service.
NCHS — National Center for Health Statistics
Organizations · A CDC center producing national health statistics.
NCQA — National Committee for Quality Assurance
Organizations · An organization developing healthcare quality measures and accreditation programs.
NDA — New drug application
Research & evidence · An application asking FDA to approve a new drug for marketing.
NDC — National Drug Code
Billing & coding · An identifier used in the United States for drug products and package information.
NG — Nasogastric
Medicines & shorthand · Relating to a tube or route passing through the nose into the stomach.
NHSN — National Healthcare Safety Network
Public health & infection · CDC's system for tracking healthcare-associated infections and related safety data.
NICU — Neonatal intensive care unit
Care settings & teams · A specialized unit caring for newborns who need intensive support.
NIDDM — Non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus
Clinical conditions · An older term generally associated with type 2 diabetes.
Historical wording; people with type 2 diabetes may use insulin.
NIH — National Institutes of Health
Organizations · The federal medical research organization comprising multiple institutes and centers.
NIOSH — National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
Organizations · A CDC institute researching workplace safety and health.
NKDA — No known drug allergies
Medicines & shorthand · A record indicating that no drug allergies are known at the time of documentation.
This does not confirm that every allergy or reaction has been assessed.
NLM — National Library of Medicine
Organizations · The NIH library supporting biomedical information, terminology, and research resources.
NNDSS — National Notifiable Diseases Surveillance System
Public health & infection · A system supporting collection and sharing of reportable disease data.
NP — Nurse practitioner
Workforce & credentials · An advanced practice nurse assessing and managing patient care within applicable practice rules.
NPI — National Provider Identifier
Billing & coding · A 10-digit identifier for covered healthcare providers in standard transactions.
An NPI does not establish a professional license or Medicare enrollment by itself.
NPP — Notice of privacy practices
Privacy & compliance · A notice explaining a covered entity's privacy practices and individuals' rights.
NPP can mean non-physician practitioner in billing materials.
NPPES — National Plan and Provider Enumeration System
Billing & coding · The system used to assign and maintain National Provider Identifiers.
NSAID — Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug
Medicines & shorthand · A medication class used for pain and inflammation, including drugs such as ibuprofen.
OCD — Obsessive-compulsive disorder
Behavioral health · A condition involving recurring intrusive thoughts and repetitive behaviors or mental acts.
OCR — Office for Civil Rights
Organizations · The HHS office enforcing HIPAA privacy and security rules and certain civil rights protections.
Other agencies also have offices abbreviated OCR.
OEP — Open Enrollment Period
Coverage & benefits · A designated time when eligible people may enroll in or change health coverage.
Dates and permissible changes depend on the program.
OID — Object identifier
Health IT & data · A globally unique identifier used for items such as code systems and value sets.
OIG — Office of Inspector General
Organizations · An oversight office investigating fraud, waste, and abuse; in healthcare, often HHS OIG.
ONC — Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology
Organizations · An office name widely used in U.S. health IT policy and certification materials.
Agency naming and organizational structures can change; consult the linked source.
OON — Out of network
Coverage & benefits · A provider or service outside a health plan's contracted network.
OOP — Out of pocket
Coverage & benefits · Costs a person pays directly, such as deductibles, copayments, and coinsurance.
OOPM — Out-of-pocket maximum
Coverage & benefits · The plan's limit on qualifying covered spending by the member during a plan year.
Premiums and noncovered services generally do not count toward this limit.
OPPS — Outpatient Prospective Payment System
Billing & coding · Medicare's prospective payment system for hospital outpatient services.
OQR — Outpatient Quality Reporting
Quality & safety · A hospital program for reporting selected outpatient quality measures.
OR — Odds ratio
Research & evidence · A ratio comparing the odds of an outcome between two groups.
An odds ratio is not generally the same as a risk ratio.
OR — Operating room
Care settings & teams · A room equipped for surgical procedures.
In research, OR can mean odds ratio.
OSA — Obstructive sleep apnea
Clinical conditions · A sleep disorder involving repeated upper-airway obstruction during sleep.
OT — Occupational therapist
Workforce & credentials · A rehabilitation professional helping people perform meaningful daily activities.
In staffing and payroll, OT means overtime.
OT — Overtime
Workforce & credentials · Work hours or pay classified as overtime under applicable law or an employment agreement.
Overtime rules vary; this database does not calculate pay entitlements.
OTA — Occupational therapy assistant
Workforce & credentials · A worker providing occupational therapy services under an occupational therapist's direction.
OUD — Opioid use disorder
Behavioral health · A substance use disorder involving opioids.
P4P — Pay for performance
Quality & safety · A payment approach tying part of reimbursement to defined performance measures.
PA — Physician assistant
Workforce & credentials · A licensed clinician who examines, diagnoses, and treats patients within applicable practice rules.
Physician associate is also used by the profession; legal titles vary by jurisdiction.
PA — Prior authorization
Coverage & benefits · A health plan's review or approval process before certain services or medications.
Authorization does not guarantee that every resulting claim will be paid.
PACE — Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly
Coverage & benefits · A program combining medical and social services for eligible older adults.
PACS — Picture archiving and communication system
Health IT & data · A system for storing, retrieving, and distributing medical images.
PACU — Post-anesthesia care unit
Care settings & teams · A monitored care area for recovery after anesthesia.
PAD — Peripheral artery disease
Clinical conditions · Disease involving reduced blood flow through arteries outside the heart, often in the legs.
Pap — Papanicolaou test
Tests & imaging · A test examining cervical cells for abnormalities.
Pap is an eponym-based abbreviation rather than an initialism.
PAT — Paroxysmal atrial tachycardia
Clinical conditions · Episodes of a rapid heart rhythm arising in the atria.
PBJ — Payroll-Based Journal
Workforce & credentials · CMS's system for collecting specified nursing home staffing data.
Reporting definitions and submission requirements are program-specific.
PBM — Pharmacy benefit manager
Coverage & benefits · An organization administering prescription drug benefits for health plans or employers.
PCMH — Patient-centered medical home
Care settings & teams · A model organizing primary care around coordinated, accessible, comprehensive services.
PCP — Primary care provider
Coverage & benefits · A healthcare professional providing first-contact and continuing general care.
Some documents use PCP specifically for primary care physician.
PCR — Polymerase chain reaction
Tests & imaging · A laboratory technique used to amplify selected genetic material.
PDGM — Patient-Driven Groupings Model
Billing & coding · The case-mix model used in Medicare home health payment.
PDP — Prescription drug plan
Coverage & benefits · A plan providing prescription medication benefits, often a stand-alone Medicare Part D plan.
PDPM — Patient Driven Payment Model
Billing & coding · Medicare's case-mix classification model for covered skilled nursing facility stays.
PDSA — Plan-Do-Study-Act
Quality & safety · An iterative cycle for testing and refining improvements.
PE — Pulmonary embolism
Clinical conditions · A blockage in a pulmonary artery, commonly caused by a blood clot.
PE may instead mean physical examination in a clinical note.
PECOS — Provider Enrollment, Chain, and Ownership System
Billing & coding · Medicare's online provider enrollment and enrollment-management system.
PET — Positron emission tomography
Tests & imaging · Imaging using a radioactive tracer to examine metabolic or other tissue activity.
PET is not simply an X-ray; PET/CT combines different imaging methods.
PFS — Physician Fee Schedule
Billing & coding · A Medicare payment schedule for physician and other professional services.
PFT — Pulmonary function test
Tests & imaging · A test or group of tests assessing how the lungs work.
PharmD — Doctor of Pharmacy
Workforce & credentials · A professional pharmacy degree.
A degree is distinct from current pharmacist licensure.
PHI — Protected health information
Privacy & compliance · Individually identifiable health information protected under HIPAA when held or transmitted by covered entities or business associates.
HIPAA excludes certain employment records and other specified records.
PHR — Personal health record
Health IT & data · A health record designed for individuals to manage or access their own health information.
PI — Principal investigator
Research & evidence · The person with primary responsibility for conducting a research study.
In quality reporting, PI may instead mean Promoting Interoperability.
PICU — Pediatric intensive care unit
Care settings & teams · An intensive care unit for children.
PID — Pelvic inflammatory disease
Clinical conditions · Infection and inflammation involving upper reproductive organs in the pelvis.
PII — Personally identifiable information
Privacy & compliance · Information that can identify a person, alone or when combined with other information.
PII and PHI have different scopes.
PMHNP — Psychiatric-mental health nurse practitioner
Workforce & credentials · A nurse practitioner role focused on mental health assessment and treatment.
PMS — Premenstrual syndrome
Clinical conditions · A pattern of physical and emotional symptoms occurring before a menstrual period.
POS — Place of service
Billing & coding · A code or descriptor identifying where a healthcare service was provided.
In health plan descriptions, POS can mean point of service.
POS — Point of service
Coverage & benefits · A plan type combining network care with options for out-of-network services.
In claims, POS commonly means place of service.
PPD — Postpartum depression
Behavioral health · Depression occurring after childbirth.
PPD can also mean purified protein derivative in tuberculosis testing.
PPD — Purified protein derivative
Tests & imaging · A material used in a tuberculin skin test.
In maternal health, PPD can instead mean postpartum depression.
PPE — Personal protective equipment
Public health & infection · Equipment worn to reduce exposure to workplace hazards, including infectious materials.
PPO — Preferred provider organization
Coverage & benefits · A plan with a preferred provider network and typically some out-of-network benefits.
PPS — Prospective payment system
Billing & coding · A method setting payments using predefined classifications or rates.
PQI — Prevention Quality Indicator
Quality & safety · An indicator used to identify potential issues in access to outpatient care.
PRN — As needed
Workforce & credentials · A staffing designation for work scheduled according to the organization's needs.
In prescriptions, PRN means as needed; the full order must specify conditions and limits.
PRO — Patient-reported outcome
Quality & safety · Information about health status reported directly by the patient.
PRO-PM — Patient-reported outcome-based performance measure
Quality & safety · A measure aggregating patient-reported outcomes to assess provider or organizational performance.
PROM — Patient-reported outcome measure
Quality & safety · An instrument used to collect patient-reported outcomes.
PSA — Prostate-specific antigen
Tests & imaging · A protein measured in blood tests used in assessing prostate conditions.
An elevated result does not establish cancer by itself.
PSI — Patient Safety Indicator
Quality & safety · An indicator identifying potential safety concerns in hospital administrative data.
PT — Physical therapist
Workforce & credentials · A licensed rehabilitation professional who helps people improve movement and manage physical function.
In a laboratory report, PT commonly means prothrombin time.
PT — Prothrombin time
Tests & imaging · A blood test measuring how long a sample takes to clot through specified pathways.
In rehabilitation or staffing, PT can mean physical therapy or physical therapist.
PTA — Physical therapist assistant
Workforce & credentials · A worker providing physical therapy services under a physical therapist's direction.
PTC — Premium tax credit
Coverage & benefits · A tax credit that helps eligible households pay Marketplace health insurance premiums.
PTH — Parathyroid hormone
Tests & imaging · A hormone involved in regulating calcium and phosphorus levels.
PTO — Paid time off
Workforce & credentials · Employer-provided paid leave that may combine vacation, personal, or other leave categories.
Plan terms and applicable state or local rules determine availability.
PTSD — Post-traumatic stress disorder
Behavioral health · A mental health condition that can develop after exposure to traumatic events.
The preferred expansion is disorder; some older glossaries use syndrome.
PTT — Partial thromboplastin time
Tests & imaging · A blood clotting test evaluating specified coagulation pathways.
PUD — Peptic ulcer disease
Clinical conditions · Ulcers affecting the lining of the stomach or upper small intestine.
PVC — Premature ventricular contraction
Clinical conditions · An early heartbeat originating in the ventricles.
QAPI — Quality assurance and performance improvement
Quality & safety · A structured approach combining quality oversight with ongoing improvement.
QD — Daily
Medicines & shorthand · Error-prone shorthand that can be confused with other dosing frequencies.
Avoid in medication communication. Write daily in full.
QDM — Quality Data Model
Health IT & data · A model describing data used in specified electronic quality measures.
QHIN — Qualified Health Information Network
Health IT & data · A network designated to participate in exchange under TEFCA.
QHP — Qualified health plan
Coverage & benefits · A health insurance plan meeting standards for certification in a Marketplace.
QI-Core — Quality Improvement Core
Health IT & data · An HL7 FHIR implementation guide defining profiles for clinical quality use cases.
QID — Four times daily
Medicines & shorthand · A Latin-derived abbreviation used in some medication instructions.
Recognition only. Confirm the full prescription and timing.
QIO — Quality Improvement Organization
Quality & safety · An organization working within Medicare's quality improvement framework.
QLE — Qualifying life event
Coverage & benefits · A life change that may create a special opportunity to enroll in health coverage.
QMB — Qualified Medicare Beneficiary
Coverage & benefits · A Medicare Savings Program category that helps eligible people with specified Medicare costs.
QOD — Every other day
Medicines & shorthand · Error-prone shorthand that can be confused with daily or other schedules.
Avoid in medication communication. Write every other day in full.
QPP — Quality Payment Program
Quality & safety · Medicare's clinician payment framework including MIPS and Advanced APM participation.
QRDA — Quality Reporting Document Architecture
Health IT & data · An HL7 format for exchanging electronic clinical quality measure data.
QSEHRA — Qualified small employer health reimbursement arrangement
Coverage & benefits · An arrangement allowing eligible small employers to reimburse qualifying health expenses.
RA — Remittance advice
Billing & coding · A payer's explanation of payment decisions, adjustments, and denials.
In clinical notes, RA can mean rheumatoid arthritis.
RA — Rheumatoid arthritis
Clinical conditions · An autoimmune disease that commonly causes inflammatory joint disease.
RA can also mean remittance advice in billing or room air in clinical notes.
RAC — Recovery Audit Contractor
Billing & coding · A contractor reviewing Medicare claims to identify and correct improper payments.
RBAC — Role-based access control
Privacy & compliance · An approach assigning system permissions according to a person's role.
RBC — Red blood cell
Tests & imaging · A blood cell that carries oxygen using hemoglobin.
RBRVS — Resource-based relative value scale
Billing & coding · A framework assigning relative values to physician services based on resource use.
RCA — Root cause analysis
Quality & safety · A structured review of contributing system factors after a problem or adverse event.
RCE — Recognized Coordinating Entity
Health IT & data · The entity coordinating implementation and operation of the TEFCA framework.
RCT — Randomized controlled trial
Research & evidence · A study assigning participants by chance to compare interventions or groups.
RD — Registered dietitian
Workforce & credentials · A credentialed nutrition professional providing food and nutrition services.
RHC — Rural health clinic
Care settings & teams · A clinic certified under a federal program supporting access to care in qualifying rural areas.
RN — Registered nurse
Workforce & credentials · A licensed nursing professional providing and coordinating patient care.
Licensure and scope of practice are determined by the state.
RR — Relative risk
Research & evidence · A ratio comparing the probability of an outcome between groups.
In clinical observation charts, RR often means respiratory rate.
RR — Respiratory rate
Tests & imaging · The number of breaths taken in a unit of time, commonly one minute.
In research, RR commonly means relative risk.
RSV — Respiratory syncytial virus
Public health & infection · A respiratory virus that can cause serious illness in infants, older adults, and other higher-risk people.
RT — Respiratory therapist
Workforce & credentials · A healthcare professional treating and supporting patients with breathing or cardiopulmonary needs.
RT has other local meanings, including radiation therapy.
RVU — Relative value unit
Billing & coding · A unit representing the relative resources associated with a professional service.
RWD — Real-world data
Research & evidence · Health and care-delivery data collected from sources such as records, claims, and registries.
RWE — Real-world evidence
Research & evidence · Clinical evidence derived from analysis of real-world data.
Rx — Prescription
Medicines & shorthand · Shorthand referring to a prescription or prescribed treatment.
SAD — Seasonal affective disorder
Behavioral health · Depression with a recurring seasonal pattern.
SAD may also be used for social anxiety disorder; confirm the context.
SAE — Serious adverse event
Research & evidence · An adverse event meeting specified seriousness criteria in research or regulatory reporting.
Seriousness and symptom severity are different concepts.
SAMHSA — Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
Organizations · A federal agency associated with mental health and substance use services.
SAMS — Secure Access Management Services
Public health & infection · A CDC access service used to reach specified public health applications.
Some CDC materials shorten the expansion to Secure Access Management System.
SARS-CoV-2 — Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2
Public health & infection · The virus that causes COVID-19.
SBC — Summary of Benefits and Coverage
Coverage & benefits · A standardized summary for comparing a health plan's coverage and cost sharing.
SDC — Structured Data Capture
Health IT & data · Standards and approaches for defining and exchanging structured forms and responses.
SEP — Special Enrollment Period
Coverage & benefits · An enrollment opportunity outside the standard window triggered by eligibility or life circumstances.
SHIP — State Health Insurance Assistance Program
Coverage & benefits · A program providing local Medicare counseling and assistance.
SHOP — Small Business Health Options Program
Coverage & benefits · A health insurance program designed for eligible small employers.
SIDS — Sudden infant death syndrome
Clinical conditions · The unexplained death of an infant after a thorough investigation.
SIR — Standardized infection ratio
Public health & infection · A summary comparing observed healthcare-associated infections with a predicted number.
Interpretation depends on the surveillance model and population.
SLE — Systemic lupus erythematosus
Clinical conditions · An autoimmune disease that can affect multiple organs and tissues.
SLMB — Specified Low-Income Medicare Beneficiary
Coverage & benefits · A Medicare Savings Program category assisting eligible people with Part B premiums.
SLP — Speech-language pathologist
Workforce & credentials · A professional assessing and treating speech, language, communication, and swallowing disorders.
SNF — Skilled nursing facility
Billing & coding · A facility providing skilled nursing or rehabilitation services for eligible patients.
SNOMED CT — Systematized Nomenclature of Medicine Clinical Terms
Health IT & data · A clinical terminology used to represent concepts in electronic health records.
SNP — Special needs plan
Coverage & benefits · A Medicare Advantage plan designed for people with specified health or eligibility needs.
SNRI — Serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor
Medicines & shorthand · A medication class affecting serotonin and norepinephrine signaling.
SOB — Shortness of breath
Clinical conditions · Shorthand describing breathlessness or difficulty breathing.
SpO2 — Peripheral oxygen saturation
Tests & imaging · An estimate of blood oxygen saturation obtained with a pulse oximeter.
Readings must be interpreted with symptoms, device limitations, and clinical context.
SRA — Security risk assessment
Privacy & compliance · A structured examination of threats, vulnerabilities, and risks to information systems.
SSDI — Social Security Disability Insurance
Coverage & benefits · A federal disability benefit based on qualifying disability and insured work history.
SSI — Supplemental Security Income
Coverage & benefits · A federal benefit for eligible people with limited income and resources who meet age, disability, or blindness criteria.
SSI is distinct from Social Security Disability Insurance.
SSI — Surgical site infection
Public health & infection · An infection involving a surgical incision or operative site under defined criteria.
In benefits administration, SSI means Supplemental Security Income.
SSRI — Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor
Medicines & shorthand · A medication class commonly used to treat depression and some anxiety disorders.
STD — Sexually transmitted disease
Public health & infection · A disease transmitted through sexual contact.
STI emphasizes infection, which may occur without symptoms or disease.
SUD — Substance use disorder
Behavioral health · A condition involving a problematic pattern of substance use with clinically significant impairment or distress.
SUR — Standardized utilization ratio
Public health & infection · A summary comparing observed device use with predicted device use.
T3 — Triiodothyronine
Tests & imaging · A thyroid hormone that can be measured in blood testing.
T4 — Thyroxine
Tests & imaging · A thyroid hormone that can be measured in blood testing.
TAH — Total abdominal hysterectomy
Procedures & treatment · Removal of the uterus and cervix through an abdominal surgical approach.
TB — Tuberculosis
Public health & infection · An infection caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis that can affect the lungs or other body sites.
Latent infection and active disease are different states.
TCM — Transitional care management
Billing & coding · Care management supporting a patient after discharge to a community setting.
TEFCA — Trusted Exchange Framework and Common Agreement
Health IT & data · A U.S. framework for nationwide health information exchange across participating networks.
TIA — Transient ischemic attack
Clinical conditions · A temporary episode of neurologic dysfunction caused by reduced blood flow.
A TIA requires urgent assessment; temporary symptoms do not make it harmless.
TIBC — Total iron-binding capacity
Tests & imaging · A blood test assessing the capacity of proteins to bind iron.
TID — Three times daily
Medicines & shorthand · A Latin-derived abbreviation used in some medication instructions.
Recognition only. Confirm the full prescription and timing.
TIN — Taxpayer identification number
Billing & coding · An identifier used in tax reporting and healthcare enrollment or contracting.
TMJ — Temporomandibular joint
Clinical conditions · The joint connecting the jawbone to the skull.
TMJ refers to the joint; TMD refers to temporomandibular disorders.
TOB — Type of bill
Billing & coding · A claim field describing the facility, service classification, and claim frequency.
TPO — Treatment, payment, and healthcare operations
Privacy & compliance · HIPAA categories of activities for which certain PHI uses and disclosures are permitted.
Permissions depend on the rule's conditions and other applicable law.
TSH — Thyroid-stimulating hormone
Tests & imaging · A pituitary hormone measured to help assess thyroid function.
TURP — Transurethral resection of the prostate
Procedures & treatment · A procedure removing prostate tissue through the urethra.
U — Unit
Medicines & shorthand · Error-prone shorthand for a measurement unit in medication communication.
Avoid in medication communication. Write unit in full.
UA — Urinalysis
Tests & imaging · A group of tests examining the physical, chemical, and microscopic characteristics of urine.
UMLS — Unified Medical Language System
Health IT & data · NLM resources that connect biomedical vocabularies and support terminology applications.
UPIN — Unique Physician Identification Number
Billing & coding · A legacy Medicare physician identifier replaced by the NPI for standard uses.
Historical term; use the identifier required by the current transaction.
URI — Upper respiratory infection
Clinical conditions · An infection involving the upper respiratory tract.
USCDI — United States Core Data for Interoperability
Health IT & data · A standardized set of health data classes and elements supporting interoperable exchange.
USCDI identifies data content; it is not itself an exchange protocol.
UTI — Urinary tract infection
Clinical conditions · An infection involving part of the urinary tract.
VA — Department of Veterans Affairs
Organizations · The federal department responsible for benefits and services for eligible veterans.
VAE — Ventilator-associated event
Public health & infection · A surveillance category identifying specified complications during mechanical ventilation.
VAE and VAP are different reporting concepts.
VAP — Ventilator-associated pneumonia
Public health & infection · Pneumonia occurring in association with mechanical ventilation.
Apply the relevant clinical or surveillance definition.
VBC — Value-based care
Quality & safety · A care and payment approach emphasizing outcomes and the use of resources.
VBP — Value-based purchasing
Quality & safety · Purchasing or payment approaches that consider quality and outcomes as well as cost.
VHA — Veterans Health Administration
Organizations · The healthcare component of the Department of Veterans Affairs.
VSAC — Value Set Authority Center
Health IT & data · An NLM service hosting value sets used in quality measurement and other health applications.
WBC — White blood cell
Tests & imaging · A blood cell involved in immune defense; WBC may also refer to the measured count.
wRVU — Work relative value unit
Billing & coding · The component of an RVU reflecting clinician work for a service.
XRT — Radiation therapy
Procedures & treatment · Treatment using radiation, often as part of cancer care.
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Disclaimer: This acronym database is provided solely for general educational, reference, and informational purposes and does not constitute medical, clinical, legal, coding, or billing advice. Acronyms and abbreviations frequently carry multiple meanings depending on clinical context, facility protocols, or specific payer guidelines; therefore, users must independently verify all entries against original source documentation, relevant regulatory authorities, or official administrative manuals before making any healthcare decisions. Neither the publishers nor contributors assume liability for actions taken, errors made, or treatment decisions based on the definitions or guidance contained within this tool.
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Disclaimer: The content provided on this webpage is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for professional advice. While we strive to ensure the accuracy and timeliness of the information presented here, the details may change over time or vary in different jurisdictions. Therefore, we do not guarantee the completeness, reliability, or absolute accuracy of this information. The information on this page should not be used as a basis for making legal, financial, or any other key decisions. We strongly advise consulting with a qualified professional or expert in the relevant field for specific advice, guidance, or services. By using this webpage, you acknowledge that the information is offered “as is” and that we are not liable for any errors, omissions, or inaccuracies in the content, nor for any actions taken based on the information provided. We shall not be held liable for any direct, indirect, incidental, consequential, or punitive damages arising out of your access to, use of, or reliance on any content on this page.
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