“Health care reform has introduced a new language of acronyms, terminology, and abbreviations. These acronyms are used to describe the law, regulations, health insurance, and government entities. Here is a list of the top 55 health care reform acronyms, and what they stand for.
55 Health Care Reform Acronyms
| Health Reform Acronym | What it Stands For |
| ACA | Affordable Care Act |
| ACO | Accountable Care Organization |
| ADA | Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 |
| AHO | Accountable Health Organization |
| APTC | Advanceable Premium Tax Credit |
| ARRA | American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (“Stimulus Bill”) |
| AV | Actuarial Values |
| BHP | Basic Health Plan |
| CHIP | Children’s Health Insurance Program, enacted 1977 |
| CHIPRA | Children’s Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act of 2009 |
| CMS | Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services |
| CO-OP | Consumer Operated and Oriented Plan |
| DOL | US Department of Labor |
| ECP | Essential Community Provider |
| EHB | Essential Health Benefits |
| EHBP | Essential Health Benefits Package |
| EHR | Electronic Health Record |
| ESI | Employer Sponsored Insurance |
| FEHBP | Federal Employees Health Benefits Program |
| FFS | Fee-For-Service |
| FMAP | Federal Medical Assistance Percentage |
| FPL | Federal Poverty Level |
| FQHC | Federally Qualified Health Center |
| FR | Federal Register |
| FT | Full Time |
| FTE | Full Time Equivalent |
| GF | Grandfathered Health Plan |
| HCR | Health Care Reform |
| HHS | U.S. Department of Health and Human Services |
| HIE or HIX | Health Insurance Exchange |
| HIM | Health Insurance Marketplace |
| HIT | Health Insurance Tax |
| HIPAA | Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 |
| HRP | High Risk Pools |
| HRSA | Federal Health Resources and Services Administration |
| IFR | Interim Final Rule |
| MA | Medicare Advantage |
| MAGI | Modified Adjusted Gross Income |
| MCO | Managed Care Organization |
| MEC | Minimum Essential Coverage |
| MedPAC | Medicare Payment Advisory Commission |
| MV | Minimum Value |
| OEP | Open Enrollment Period |
| PEPM | Per Employee Per Month |
| PMPM | Per Member Per Month |
| PPACA | Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act |
| PT | Part Time |
| PTC | Premium Tax Credit |
| QHP | Qualified Health Plan |
| RFP | Request for Proposal |
| SEP | Special Enrollment Period |
| SHOP | Small Business Health Options Program |
| SSA | Social Security Administration |
| SSI | Supplemental Security Income |
| TANF | Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program |