Specialized Medical Care and Management Abbreviations

Reference tables for the abbreviations for managed care, U.S. agencies and organizations, and specialized areas/facilities for medical purposes. ‘Managed Care’ refers to common abbreviations when dealing with insurance and payments in the medical field. ‘Agencies & Organizations of the United States’ lists the most common/relevant abbreviations. ‘Specialized areas and facilities’ is a reference chart for abbreviations of common medical specialities and appropriate hospital facilities.

Managed Care
ASO	administrative services only
cap	capitation (reimbursement)
CM	case management/manager
COB	Coordination of Benefits
COBRA	Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (1985)
COC	Certificate of Coverage
co-pay	copayment
DUR	drug usage/utilization review
EOB	Explanation of Benefits
EPO	Exclusive Provider Organization
ERISA	Employee Retirement Income Security Act (1974)
FFS	Fee-For-Service (reimbursement)
HEDIS	Health Employer Data & Information Set
HI	health insurance
HIPAA	Health Insurance Portability & Accountability Act (1996)
HMO	Health Maintenance Organization
MCP	managed care plan
MIP	Managed Indemnity Program/Plan
MSP	Medicare Secondary Payor
NCQA	National Committee for Quality Assurance
PBM	Pharmacy Benefit Manager
PCP	Primary Care Provider, Primary Care Physician
PHO	Physician—Hospital Organization
PMPM	per member per month (Capitation)
POS	Point of Service
PPO	Preferred Provider Organization
PPS	Prospective Payment System
SSO	second surgical opinion
TPA	Third Party Administrator
UCR	usual, customary & reasonable (fees)
UR	Utilization Review

Agencies & Organizations of the United States
AHA	American Hospital Association
AMA	American Medical Association
CAAHEP	Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs
CDC	Centers for Disease Control
FDA	Food & Drug Administration
HCFA	Health Care Financing Administration
HHA	Home Health Agency
IOM	Institute of Medicne
JCAHO	Joint commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations
NCI	National Cancer Institute
NHC	National Health Council
NIH	National Institutes of Health
NLN	National League for Nursing
NORD	National Organization for Rare Disorders
UNOS	United Network for Organ Sharing
USDHHS	U.S. Department of Health/Human Services
USPHS	U.S. Public Health Service
VNA	Visiting Nurse Association
WHO	World Health Organization

Specialized Areas and Facilities
AAC	Ambulatory Care Center
ALF	Assisted Living Facility
BB, BLBK	Blood Bank
BU	Burn Unit
CCRC	Continuous Care Retirement Community
CCU	Coronary Care Unit, Critical Care Unit
DR	Delivery Room
ECF	Extended Care Facility
ED	Emergency Department
ER	Emergency Room
ETU	Emergency Trauma Unit, Emergency Treatment Unit
HDU	Hemodialysis Unit
ICF	Intermediate Care Facility
ICU	Intensive Care Unit, Intermediate Care Unit
Lab	Laboratory
LR	Labor Room
MHC	Mental Health Center
MICU	Medical Intensive Care Unit
MRD	Medical Records Department
NICU	Neonatal Intensive Care Unit
OPC	Outpatient Clinic
OPD	Outpatient Department
OPS	Outpatient Surgery, Outpatient Service
OR	Operating Room
OT	Occupational therapy
PPC	Poison Control Center
PCU	Progressive Care Unit
Peds	Pediatrics
Pharm	Pharmacy
PICU	Pediatric Intensive Care Unit
PT	Physical Therapy
RPCH	Rural Primary Care Hospital
RR	Recovery Room
SICU	Surgical Intensive Care Unit
SNF	Skilled Nursing Facility
TC	Therapeutic Community, Trauma Center