Which cabinet-level federal agency is tasked with protecting the health of all Americans and providing essential human services, including Medicare and Medicaid, and overseeing agencies like the CDC and FDA?

• A. Department of Health and Human Services
• B. National Institutes of Health (NIH)
• C. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
• D. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)

Answer: (A)

The key idea is recognizing which cabinet-level department coordinates broad health protection, major health programs, and oversight of the main health agencies. The Department of Health and Human Services fits this role: it is a cabinet-level department whose mission includes protecting the health of all Americans and providing essential human services. It administers Medicare and Medicaid through the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services and oversees the CDC and FDA, among other agencies.

NIH is part of this department and focuses on biomedical research, not on running Medicare/Medicaid or overseeing the major health agencies. OSHA belongs to the Department of Labor and centers on workplace safety. Thus, the department that matches all parts of the description is the Department of Health and Human Services.