To a great extent, health services are provided by the private sector and commercial insurers perform an important function in financing health care. The majority of health services coverage is obtained by means of a third payer party, an employer or the government, that makes direct or indirect payments to service providers.

The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is the principal governmental agency in charge of protecting the health of all the citizens and provides essential social services, especially for the vulnerable population groups.

Health System Profile of United States

The profile was prepared by a group of 15 professionals and national policy decision makers from the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) of the United States of America, from 6 different Agencies and multiple Offices/Centers within those Agencies. Technical coordination of the national group was the responsibility of the Office of Global Health Affairs, HHS. An external review of a preliminary draft was completed by Leon Wyszewianski, Ph.D., of the University of Michigan School of Public Health and Stephen Mick, Ph.D., of the Department of Health Administration of Virginia Commonwealth University. Final review, edition, and translation are the responsibility of the Health Systems and Policies Unit, PAHO/WHO, Washington, DC.

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United States of America Country Profile - Health in the Americas, 2007
Link to United States Department of Health