ABSTRACT
The federal government plays a massive role in health care in the United States. This chapter discusses a few examples of the major federal institutions involved with health care. Some of these institutions, such as the Indian Health Service (IHS), deliver health care directly through government-owned facilities by health professionals who are government employees. Other federal programs, such as Medicare, simply fund health care delivered by the private sector. The Civilian Health and Medical Program of the Uniformed Services (CHAMPUS) is a health insurance program run by the Department of Defense (DoD) for military dependents who cannot or will not use military hospitals. CHAMPUS is one piece of a vast international health care network operated by the military. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is one of the principal guardians of public health in the United States. Its purview covers the quality of drinking water, air and water pollution, hazardous waste, radioactive materials, pesticides, and more.
