DSHS Acronym List (updated February 2023) Page | 1
Acronym List
This list of acronyms and abbreviations is provided as a useful resource.
It is not comprehensive. Please email the library if you have suggestions to
add to this list.
A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P
|
Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z | Other Abbreviations
A top
Acronym Meaning
AA Adaptive Aids
AA Administrative Agency
AA Affirmative Action
AAA Area Agency on Aging
AABR Automated Auditory Brainstem Response
AACAP American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
AACN American Association of Colleges of Nursing
AACN American Association of Critical-Care Nurses
AACOM American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine
AAEP American Academy of Emergency Physicians
AAFP American Academy of Family Physicians
AAFS Animals, Agriculture, Food, and Feed Safety
AAMC Association of American Medical Colleges
AAMRC Alamo Area Medical Reserve Corps
AAN American Association of Nutrition
AAP American Academy of Pediatrics
AAPA American Academy of Physician Assistants
AAPCC Adjusted Average Per Capita Cost
AAPD American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry
AAR After Action Report
AARP American Association of Retired Persons
AB Ancillary Barrier (Under the Kennedy Sub Scales, State Hospital)
ABAT Advisory Board of Athletic Trainers
ABEST Automated Budget and Evaluation System of Texas
ABI Acquired brain injury
ABIH American Board of Industrial Hygiene
ABLES Adult Blood Lead Epidemiology and Surveillance, DSHS
DSHS Acronym List (updated February 2023) Page | 2
ACA Affordable Care Act
ACA American Correctional Association
ACCME Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education
ACEP American College of Emergency Physicians
ACF Administration for Children and Families (federal)
ACGME Accrediting Council for Graduate Medical Education
ACHP Associateship for Consumer Health Protection (DSHS)
ACIP Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices
ACLS Advanced Cardiac Life Support
ACM Assigned Contract Manager
ACNM American College of Nurse Midwives
ACO Accountable Care Organization
ACOG American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists
ACOSM American College of Sports Medicine
ACPM American College of Preventive Medicine
ACS Affiliated Computer Services
ACS American Cancer Society
ACS Alternate Care Site
ACT Assertive Community Treatment
ACYF Administration for Children, Youth and Families (federal)
ADA American Dental Association
ADA American Dietetic Association
ADA Americans with Disabilities Act
ADAP AIDS Drug Assistance Program
ADC Adult Day Care
ADD Accidental Death and Dismemberment
ADD Administration on Developmental Disabilities (federal)
ADEA Age Discrimination in Employment Act
ADI Acceptable Daily Intake
ADP Automatic Data Processing
ADSL Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line (form of DSL allowing
different volume of data flow)
ADSO Additional Duty Safety Officer
AE Aeromedical Evacuation
AED Antiepileptic Drugs
AED Automated External Defibrillator
AE Aeromedical Evacuation Liaison Team
AEMT Advanced Emergency Medical Technician
AFC Adult Foster Care
AFDC Aid to Families with Dependent Children
DSHS Acronym List (updated February 2023) Page | 3
AFDO Association of Food and Drug Officials
AFIX Assessment Feedback Incentives eXchange (CDC software)
AFO Area Field Office
AG Attorney General
AGEP Anatomical Gift Education Program
AHA American Heart Association
AHA American Hospital Association
AHATT Air Hub Ambulance Transportation Team
AHCA American Health Care Act
AHCPR Agency for Health Care Policy and Research
AHEC Area Health Education Center
AHIMT All-Hazards Incident Management Team
AHRQ Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (federal)
AI Assessment Initiative
AIC Area Information Center
AIDS Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome
AIS Automated Information System
AIS Automated Inquiry System
AJPH American Journal of Public Health
ALA American Library Association
ALA American Lung Association
ALA Aspiring Leaders Academy (HHSC)
ALERT Air Land Emergency Response Team
ALF Assisted Living Facility
ALJ Administrative Law Judge
ALOS Average Length of Stay
ALS Advanced Life Support
A.M. Abbreviation for the Latin ‘Ante Meridiem’, translating to ‘Before
Midday’.
AM Abbreviation for Latin ‘Ante Mortem’, translating to ‘Before
Death’.
A-M Artery-to-Muscle
AMA American Medical Association
AMAR Automated Medication Administration Record
AMBUS Ambulance Bus
AMEH Air Medical Evacuation Hubs
AMH Accreditation Manual for Hospitals
AMOPS Ambulance Operations Plan
AMP Aeromedical Marshaling Point
AMSA American Medical Student Association
DSHS Acronym List (updated February 2023) Page | 4
ANA American Nurses Association
ANSI American National Standard Institute
AO Area of Operations
AOA Administration on Aging (federal DHHS)
AOA American Osteopathic Association
AOBD Air Operations Branch Director
AOC Air Operations Center
AOR Authorized Organization Representative
AP Accounts Payable
APA Administrative Procedure Act
APDU Advanced Planning Document Update
APEXPH Assessment Protocol for Excellence in Public Health
APhA American Pharmacists Association
APHA American Public Health Association
APHL Association of Public Health Laboratories
APHT Applied Public Health Team
API Application Program Interface
APIO Assistant Public Information Officer
APL Authorized Product List
APM Alternative Payment Model
APMHCNS-BC Adult Psychiatric & Mental Health Clinical Nurse Specialist -
Board Certified
APOD Aerial Port of Debarkation
APOE Aerial Port of Embarkation
APS Adult Protective Services
AR Appropriated Receipts
ARAN American Rehabilitation Action Network
ARC Advancing Residential Child Care
ARC AIDS Related Complex (any of several conditions caused by HIV,
except AIDS)
ARC American Red Cross
ARCC Alamo Regional Command Center
ARF Action Request Form
ARF Auto Reconciliation File
ARO After Receipt of Order
ARRA American Recovery and Reinvestment Act
ART Assistance Response Team
ASA Ambulance Staging Area
ASAP As Soon As Possible
ASC Ambulatory Surgical Center
DSHS Acronym List (updated February 2023) Page | 5
ASCII American Standard Code for Information Interchange
ASG Assistant Surgeon General
ASH Austin State Hospital
ASHP American Society of Health-System Pharmacists
ASL American Sign Language
ASM Ambulance Staging Manager
ASM American Society for Microbiology
ASN Adult Safety Net
ASOF Assistant Safety Officer
ASOIG Automated System of the Office of Inspector General
ASPR Assistant Secretary of Preparedness & Response (federal)
ASQ Ages and Stages Questionnaire
ASQ:SE Ages and Stages Questionnaire: Social Emotional
ASSE American Society of Safety Engineers
AST Ambulance Strike Team
ASTHO Association of State and Territorial Health Officials
ASTL Ambulance Strike Team Leader
ATSDR Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (federal)
AVMA American Veterinary Medical Association
AZT Azidothymidine (drug used to treat AIDS)
B top
Acronym Meaning
BAFO Best and Final Offer
BAP Budget Accounting Procurement
BBA Balanced Budget Act
BBHIS Bi-National Border Health Information System
BBO Better Birth Outcomes
BBTD Baby Bottle Tooth Decay
BCCP Breast and Cervical Cancer Program
BCCS Breast and Cervical Cancer Services (HHSC)
BCFS Baptist Child and Family Services
BCG Bacillus of Calmette and Guerin (Tuberculosis vaccine)
BCP Body Collection Point
BCP Business Continuity Planning
BCRR Bureau's Common Report Requirements (reporting system for
federal Bureau of Primary Health Care funded centers, see UDS)
BCSP Board of Certified Safety Professionals
BCVDD Blind Children's Vocational Discovery and Development
DSHS Acronym List (updated February 2023) Page | 6
BD Birth Defects
BDES Birth Defects Epidemiology and Surveillance Branch (DSHS)
BDP Burden of Disease Profile
BEST Birth Education Special Training Course
BEST Blindness Education, Screening, and Treatment
BET Business Enterprises of Texas
BF Breastfeed
BFP Bus Fuel Point
BG Blood Glucose
BHAT Behavioral Health Assistance Team
BHIPS Behavioral Health Integrated Provider System
BHO Behavioral Health Organization
BHW Bureau of Health Workforce (federal)
BI Bodily Injury
BIA Business Impact Analysis
BIAA Brain Injury Association of America
BIP Benefits Implementation Process
BLM Bureau of Land Management (federal)
BLS Basic Life Support
BLS Bureau of Labor Statistics (federal)
BMI Body Mass Index
BMJ British Medical Journal
BMW Benefits Management Workgroup
BNE Board of Nurse Examiners (Now BON)
BOM Bill of Materials
BON Board of Nursing (Texas)
BOP Biennial Operating Plan
BPHC Bureau of Primary Health Care (federal)
BRFSS Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System
BPI Business and Program Improvement
BRP Benefit Replacement Pay
BSE Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (Mad Cow Disease)
BSP Business Support and Planning
BSSH Big Springs State Hospital
BT Bioterrorism
BTLS Basic Trauma Life Support
BTWG Bioterrorism Workgroup (DSHS)
BVI Blind and Visually Impaired
C top
DSHS Acronym List (updated February 2023) Page | 7
Acronym Meaning
C/MHCs Community and Migrant Health Centers
CAAHEP Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs
CAAS Commission on Accreditation of Ambulance Services
CAFM Computer-Assisted Facility Management
CAH Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia
CAH Critical Access Hospital
CAHPS Consumer Assessment of Health Plans Survey
CAM Complementary and Alternative Medicine
CAO Central Administration Office
CAO Contract Administration Office
CAP Civil Air Patrol
CAP College of American Pathologists
CAP Community Action Program
CAP Corrective Action Plan
CAP Cost Allocation Plan
CAPCE Commission on Accreditation for Prehospital Continuing
Education
CAPPS Centralized Accounting and Payroll/Personnel System
CAPT Capital Authority Planning Team
CAR Central Adoption Registration
CAR Contract Amendment Request
CAR Contract Attachment Request
CAS Community Attendant Services
CASA Court Appointed Special Advocate
CASPER Community Assessment for Public Health Emergency Response
CASSP Child and Adolescent Service System Program (federal)
CAT Command Assistance Team
CAT Computerized Axial Tomography
CAT Contract Advisory Team
CATRAD Contract Advisory Team Review and Delegation
CBA Community Based Alternatives (waiver of the Medicaid State
Plan)
CBCU Centralized Background Check Unit
CBE Childbirth Educator
CBO Community-Based Organizations
CBO Congressional Budget Office
CBP Customs and Border Patrol
CBPR Community Based Participatory Research
CBRNE Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear and Explosives
DSHS Acronym List (updated February 2023) Page | 8
CBS Centralized Billing System
CBSA Core Based Statistical Area
CCAD Community Care for the Aged and Disabled
CCAT Community Care Assessment Tool
CCATT Critical Care Air Transport Team
CCD Continuity of Care Document
CCG Communications Coordination Group
CCG Council on Competitive Government Contracts
CCHIT Certification Commission for Health Information Technology
CCL Child Care Licensing
CCP Comprehensive Care Program (Medicaid)
CCP Crisis Counseling Assistance and Training Program
CCR Centralized Contract Registration (HHSC)
CCR Commission on Civil Rights (federal)
CCR Conference Committee Report
CCR Course Completion Roster
CCRN Certified Critical Care Nurse
CCTS Capitol Complex Telephone System (DIR service)
CCU Communications Coordination Unit
CDBG Community Development Block Grant
CDC Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (federal)
CDC Cross-Division Coordination
CDEC Chief Deputy Executive Commissioner
CDR Commissioner's Direct Report (person in executive position
who reports directly to the DSHS Commissioner)
CDRH Center for Devices and Radiological Health (federal)
CDS Clinical Decision Support
CDS Consumer Directed Services
CDSB Contract and Development Support Branch (DSHS)
CDT Current Dental Terminology
CE Continuing Education
CECBEMS Continuing Education Coordinating Board for Emergency Medical
Services
CECH Continuing Education Contact Hours
CEDD Center for Elimination of Disproportionality and Disparities
(defunct HHS center)
CEHRT Certified Electronic Health Record Technology
CEMC Community Emergency Medication Clinics
CEO Chief Executive Officer
CER Center for External Relations
CERC Crisis & Emergency Risk Communication
DSHS Acronym List (updated February 2023) Page | 9
CERCLA Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation,
and Liability Act (Superfund)
CERFP CBRNE Enhanced Response Force Package
CERT Community Emergency Response Team
CESB Cancer Epidemiology and Surveillance Branch (DSHS)
CEU Continuing Education Unit
CFBCI Center for Faith-Based and Community Initiatives (federal)
CF Cystic Fibrosis
CFC Community First Choice
CFDA Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance
CFO Chief Financial Officer
CFPM Contractor's Financial Procedure Manual
CFR Code of Federal Regulations
CFRTC Child Fatality Review Team Committee
CFSAN Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition (federal)
CGIR Contract Group Initiation Request
CH Child Health
CH Congenital Hypothyroidism
CHC Community Health Center
CHC Comprehensive Health Center
CHCN Community Health Center Network
CHCS Center for Health Care Strategies
CHD Coronary Heart Disease
CHEPR Center for Health Emergency Preparedness and Response
CHES Certified Health Education Specialist
CHI Community Health Improvement
CHIP Children's Health Insurance Program
CHN Community Health Network
CHRS Child Health Reporting System
CHS Center for Health Statistics (DSHS)
CHW Community Health Worker
CI Confidence Interval
CIH Certified Industrial Hygienist
CIHCP County Indigent Health Care Program (DSHS)
CIKR Critical Infrastructure and Key Resources
CIL Center for Independent Living
CIO Chief Information Officer
CISD Critical Incident Stress Debriefing
CISM Critical Incident Stress Management
CISO Chief Information Security Officer
DSHS Acronym List (updated February 2023) Page | 10
CISS Community Integration Service System
CJD Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease
CLASS Community Living Assistance and Support Services
CLE Continuing Legal Education
CLIA Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendment
CLO Community Living Option
CLPPP Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Program
CM Case Management
CMBHS Clinical Management for Behavioral Health Services
CMBL Certified Master Bidders List
CME Continuing Medical Education
CMH Contract Management Handbook
CMHC Community Mental Health Center
CMOC Catastrophic Medical Operations Center
CMPAS Consumer Managed Personal Attendant Services
CMS Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (federal)
CMS Consumable Medical Supplies
CMS Contract Management Section
CMT Certified Massage Therapist
CMU Contract Management Unit
CNA Central Nonprofit Administration
CNA Certified Nurse Assistant
CNA Currently Not Available
CNE Continuing Nursing Education
CNM Certified Nurse Midwife
CNS Central Nervous System
CNS Clinical Nurse Specialist
CO Central Office
COAD Continuation on Active Duty
COB Close of Business
COB Coordination of Benefits
COBRA Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (1985)
CoCASA Comprehensive Clinic Assessment Software Application (CDC)
COG Continuity of Government
COG Council of Governments
COI Certificate of Insurance
COI Conflict of Interest
COID Committee on Infectious Diseases
COML Communications Unit Leader
COMP Compensation Unit Leader
DSHS Acronym List (updated February 2023) Page | 11
CONOP Concept of Operations
COO Chief Operating Officer
COOP Continuity of Operations Plan
COOP Cooperative Purchasing Program
COP Common Operating Picture
COP Community Oriented Policing
COPC Community Oriented Primary Care
COPSD Co-Occurring Psychiatric and Substance Use Disorders
CORE Coordinated Outbreak Response and Evaluation
COS Contract Oversight and Support
COST Contract Oversight Support Team
COTS Commercial Off-The-Shelf
CPA Certified Public Accountant
CPA Child Placing Agency
CPA Competent Professional Authority
CPA Comptroller of Public Accounts
CPD Consumer Protection Division, DSHS
CPE/CEU Continuing Professional Education/Continuing Education Units
CPEA Center for Policy & External Affairs (DSHS)
CPH Certified in Public Health
CPHPP Center for Public Health Policy and Practice (DSHS)
CPI Consumer Price Index
CPMO Central Program Management Office
CPO Chief Policy Officer
CPO Chief Procurement Officer
CPOE Computerized Physician Order Entry
CPR Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation
CPS Central Purchasing Services
CPS Child Passenger Safety
CPS Child Protective Services
CPS Current Population Survey
CPT Current Procedural Terminology
CPW Case Management for Children and Pregnant Women
CPX Chemoprophylaxis
CQC Compliance Quality Control
CQI Continuous Quality Improvement
CQM Clinical Quality Measures
CRAFFT Car, Relax, Alone, Forget, Family, Trouble Checklist
CRC Certified Rehabilitation Counselor
CRCC Commission on Rehabilitation Counselor Certification
DSHS Acronym List (updated February 2023) Page | 12
CRCG Community Resource Coordination Groups
CRO Civil Rights Office (HHSC)
CRP Community Rehabilitation Program
CRR Contract Revision Request
CRS Community Relations Service (federal)
CRS Comprehensive Rehabilitation Services
CRT Certified Respiratory Therapist
CSA County Staging Area
CSCU Client Services Contracting Unit (DSHS)
CSD Chemical Sciences Division (federal)
CSFP Commodity Supplemental Food Program
CSHCN Children with Special Health Care Needs
CSFP Commodity Supplemental Food Program
CSOT Council on Sex Offender Treatment
CSP Certified Safety Professional
CSP Coordinated Strategic Plan
CST Central Standard Time
CST Civil Support Team
CST Clinical Support Team
CSTE Council of State and Territorial Epidemiologists
CTCD Certified Texas Contract Developer
CTCM Certified Texas Contract Manager
CTD Coalition of Texans with Disabilities
CTN Critical Transportation Needs
CTO Chief Technology Officer
CTP Certified Texas Purchaser
CTPM Certified Texas Purchasing Manager
CTS Communication Tracking System
CUC Conference of Urban Counties
CUL Cost Unit Leader
CUSI Commonly Used Shelter Items
CVA Cerebral Vascular Accident (stroke)
CVB Cash Value Benefit (WIC)
CVD Cardiovascular Disease
CWLA Child Welfare League of America
CWP Consolidated Waiver Program (Medicaid State Plan)
CWW Community and Worksite Wellness Program
CY Calendar Year (January-December)
CYD Community Youth Development
DSHS Acronym List (updated February 2023) Page | 13
D top
Acronym Meaning
DAB Departmental Appeals Board (federal)
DAC Deputy Associate Commissioner
DADS Department of Aging and Disability Services (defunct TX agency)
DAHS Day Activity and Health Services
DALY Disability Adjusted Life Year
DANSA Dallas Area NorthSTAR Authority (defunct)
DARS Department of Assistive and Rehabilitative Services (defunct TX
agency)
DASH Data Across Sectors for Health
DBH Disaster Behavioral Health
DBHS Disaster Behavioral Health Services
DBITS Deliverable Based Information Technology Service (DIR service)
DBMD Deaf Blind with Multiple Disabilities
DBS Division of Blind Services (HHS)
DC District Coordinator
DCPS Disease Control and Prevention Services
DCS Data Center Services
DCT Diez Contra la Tuberculosis
DD Development Disability
DDC Disaster District Committee / Disaster District Chair / Disaster
District Captain
DDS Disability Determination Services
DDS Doctor of Dental Surgery
DDTT Disaster Death Tracking Team
DEA Drug Enforcement Administration
DEC Deputy Executive Commissioner
DEM Division of Emergency Management
DEN Dental Insurance
DFO Disaster Field Office
DFPS Department of Family and Protective Services (Texas)
DHHS Department of Health and Human Services, U.S. (federal)
DHPE Directors of Health Promotion and Education
DHS Department of Homeland Security (federal)
DIR Department of Information Resources
DISPRO Disproportionate Share Hospital
DL Daily Living (Under Kennedy Sub Scales, State Hospital)
DMAT Disaster Medical Assistance Team
DMD Doctor of Dental Medicine (Doctor of Medicine in Dentistry)
DSHS Acronym List (updated February 2023) Page | 14
DME Durable Medical Equipment
DMH Disaster Mental Health
DMO Dental Maintenance Organization
DMOBL Demobilization Unit Leader
DMORT Disaster Mortuary Operational Response Team
DNR Do Not Resuscitate
DO Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine
DOB Date of Birth
DOCL Documentation Unit Leader
DOD Department of Defense (federal)
DOD Doctor of Dentistry
DOE Department of Energy (federal)
DOL Department of Labor (federal)
DOQ-IT Doctor's Office Quality Information Technology
DOS Date of Service
DOT Department of Transportation (federal)
DOT Directly Observed Therapy
DPA Delayed Processing Authorization
DPC Deputy Plans Coordinator
DPC Disability Policy Consortium
DPIC Deputy Incident Commander
DPMU Disaster Portable Morgue Unit
DPS Department of Public Safety (Texas)
DRA Deficit Reduction Act
DRA Disability Related Assistance
DRD Deputy Regional Director
DRG Diagnosis Related Group
DRP Disaster Recovery Planning
DrPH Doctor of Public Health
DSA Disaster District Committee Staging Area
DSH Disproportionate Share Hospital
DSHS Department of State Health Services (Texas)
DSL Digital Subscriber Line
DSM-5 Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5
th
edition
D-SNAP Disaster Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program
DSNS Division of Strategic National Stockpile (CDC)
DSO Disaster Summary Outline
DSP Direct Support Professional
DSRIP Delivery System Reform Incentive Payment
DTaP Diphtheria, Tetanus, and Acellular Pertussis (vaccine)
DSHS Acronym List (updated February 2023) Page | 15
DTP Diphtheria, Tetanus and Pertussis (vaccine)
DUA Data Use Agreement
DUI Driving Under the Influence
DUNS Dun & Bradstreet Data Universal Numbering System
DUR Dental Utilization Review
DURSA Data Use and Reciprocal Support Agreement
DVOP Disabled Veterans Outreach Program
DVR Deceased Victim Record
DWI Driving While Intoxicated
E top
Acronym Meaning
EAC Employee Advisory Council
EAID Emerging and Acute Infectious Disease
EAIDB Emerging and Acute Infectious Disease Branch
EAP Employee Assistance Program
EAS Emergency Alert System
EBM Evidence-Based Medicine
EBT Electronic Benefits Transfer
ECA Emergency Care Attendant
ECC Early Childhood Caries
ECC Emergency Communication Coordinator
ECF Extended Care Facility
ECI Early Childhood Intervention
ECPS Enterprise Contract and Procurement Services
ED Emergency Department
EDA Economic Development Administration (federal)
EDI Electronic Data Interchange
EDR Emergency Department Reliance
EEDR Environmental Epidemiology & Disease Registries (DSHS)
EEO Equal Employment Opportunity
EEOC Equal Employment Opportunity Commission
EFF Earned Federal Funds
EEG Electroencephalogram
EFT Electronic Funds Transfer
EHR Electronic Health Record
EIETU Environmental and Injury Epidemiology and Toxicology Unit
(DSHS)
EIR Electronic Information Resources
EJF Essential Job Function
DSHS Acronym List (updated February 2023) Page | 16
ELA Executive Leadership Academy (HHSC)
ELR Electronic Laboratory Reporting
ELT Executive Leadership Team (DSHS)
EMAC Emergency Management Assistance Compact
EMAT Emergency Management Association of Texas
EMB Ethambutol
EMC Emergency Management Coordinator
EMEDS CM Expeditionary Medical Systems – Consequence Management
EMI Emergency Management Institute
EMR Electronic Medical Record
EMR Employee Misconduct Registry
EMS Emergency Medical Services
EMS Emergency Medical System
EMT Emergency Medical Technician
EMT-I Emergency Medical Technician - Intermediate
EMT-P Emergency Medical Technician - Paramedic
EMTALA Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act
EMTF Emergency Medical Task Force
ENT Ear, Nose, and Throat
EO Executive Order
EOB Explanation of Benefits
EOC Emergency Operations Center
EOM End of the Month
EOP Emergency Operations Plan
EPA Environmental Protection Agency (federal)
EPI Early Psychological Intervention
EPI Epidemiology / Epidemiologist
EPI Expanded Programme on Immunization / Essential Programme
on Immunization
EPI-X The Epidemic Information Exchange
EPIC Educating Physicians in their Communities
EPLS Excluded Parties List System
EPP Evacuation Pick-up Point
EPSDT Early Periodic Screening, Diagnosis and Treatment
(Texas Health Steps)
EPPC El Paso Psychiatric Center
EQRO External Quality Review Organization
EOSU Executive Operations and Support Unit (DSHS)
EQRO External Quality Review Organization
ERC Enforcement Review Committee
DSHS Acronym List (updated February 2023) Page | 17
ERG Emergency Relocation Group
ERISA Employee Retirement Income Security Act (1974)
ERNS Emergency Response Notification System
ERO Emergency Response Official
ERP Enterprise Resource Planning
ERS Emergency Response Services
ERS Employees Retirement System
ERT Emergency Response Team
ERT Epidemiological Response Team
ERT-A Emergency Response Team Advance Element (FEMA)
ERV Emergency Response Vehicle
ESA Emotional Support Animal
ESAR-VHP Emergency System for the Advance Registration of Volunteer
Health Professionals
ESBD Electronic State Business Daily
ESC Education Service Center (regional centers of Texas Education
Agency)
ESC Emotional Spiritual Care
ESF Emergency Support Function
ESI Employer Sponsored Insurance
ESL English as a Second Language
ESL Extended Sick Leave
ESLG Environmental and Sanitation Licensing Group (DSHS)
ESO Emergency Suspension Order
ESRD End-Stage Renal Disease
ESRDN End-Stage Renal Disease Network
ESSENCE Electronic Surveillance System for the Early Notification of
Community-Based Epidemics
ESSR Executive Summary and Staff Recommendation
ETA Employment and Training Administration (federal)
ETA Estimated Time of Arrival
ETC Ebola Treatment Center (UTMB-Galveston)
ETN Emergency Tracking Network
ETN Evacuee Tracking Network
ETT Evacuation Triage Team
EWIDS Early Warning Infectious Disease Surveillance
EWS Early Warning System
EXPLAN Exercise Plan
F top
DSHS Acronym List (updated February 2023) Page | 18
Acronym Meaning
F2F Face to Face
FAA Federal Aviation Administration
FAC Family Assistance Center
FACL Facilities Unit Leader
FACOEM Fellow of the American College of Occupational and
Environmental Medicine
FAE Fetal Alcohol Effects
FAM Facility Automation Manager
FAQ Frequently Asked Questions
FAR Federal Acquisition Regulation
FAS Fetal Alcohol Syndrome
FASD Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders
FAX Facsimile Communications
FBI Federal Bureau of Investigation
FBO Faith-Based Organization
FBSS Family Based Safety Services
FCC Federal Communications Commission
FCC Federal Coordinating Center
FCE Forward Coordinating Element
FCH Family and Community Health (DSHS)
FCO Federal Coordinating Officer
FCS Family Care Services
FDA Food and Drug Administration (federal)
FDH First Dental Home
FDIC Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation
FDUL Food Unit Leader
FEAD Foreign and Emerging Animal Disease
FEMA Federal Emergency Management Agency
FERN Food Emergency Response Network
FERP Food Emergency Response Plan
FERPA Federal Educational Rights and Privacy Act (1974)
FFATA Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act
FFM Federal Funds Manager
FFP Federal Financial Participation
FFS Fee-for-Service
FFSM Fee-for-Service Medicaid
FFY Federal Fiscal Year (October 1-September 30)
FGDM Family Group Decision Making
FGP Foster Grandparents Program
DSHS Acronym List (updated February 2023) Page | 19
FHA Federal Housing Administration
FIC Funding Information Center
FICA Federal Insurance Contributions Act
FIMR Fetal Infant Mortality Review
FIN Finance Section
FIPS Federal Information Processing Standards
FIRS Food Issuance and Redemption Services (DSHS)
FL Facility Leasing
FLSA Fair Labor Standards Act
FM Facility Management
FMAP Federal Medical Assistance Percentages
FMAQ Financial Management and Administration Questionnaire
FMEA Failure Mode and Effects Analysis
FMECA Failure Mode, Effects, and Criticality Analysis
FMLA Family and Medical Leave Act
FMNP Farmer's Market Nutrition Program
FMS Federal Medical Station
FNMA Federal National Mortgage Association (Fannie Mae)
FNP Family Nurse Practitioner
FNS Food and Nutrition Service (federal)
FNS Functional Needs Support
FNSS Functional Needs Support Services
FOB Free on Board
FOG Field Operating Guide
FOIA Freedom of Information Act
FORHP Federal Office of Rural Health Policy
FOUO For Official Use Only
FP Family Physician
FP Family Planning
FPL Federal Poverty Level
FPLO Facility Patient Load Officer
FPP Family Planning Program (HHSC)
FQHC Federally Qualified Health Center
FR Federal Register
FRB Full Risk Broker
FRO First Responder Organization
FSA Flexible Spending Account
FSC Finance Section Chief
FSD Financial Services Division
FSDU Food Service Delivery Unit
DSHS Acronym List (updated February 2023) Page | 20
FSIS Food Safety and Inspection Service (federal)
FSLIC Federal Savings and Loan Insurance Corporation
FSPP Federal Surplus Property Program
FSR Financial Status Report (Form 269a)
FSY Fee Screen Year
FTE Full-Time Employee
FTP Full-Time Position
FTP File Transfer Protocol
FVP Family Violence Program
FY Fiscal Year
FYI For Your Information
G top
Acronym Meaning
GA Grant Administrator
GAA General Appropriations Act
GAAP Generally Accepted Accounting Principles
GAGAS Generally Accepted Government Auditing Standards
GAO Government Accountability Office
GB Governmental Body
GCDRR Governor's Commission for Disaster Recovery & Renewal
GCI General Contract Information / Government Contract
Information
GEER Government Effectiveness and Efficiency Report
GETAC Governor's EMS and Trauma Advisory Council
GETS Government Emergency Telecommunications Service
GI General Investigations
GINA Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act (2008)
GIS Geographic Information System
GL General Ledger
GME Graduate Medical Education
GNMA Government National Mortgage Association (Ginnie Mae)
GNP Gross National Product
GOBPP Governor’s Office Budget and Policy Division
GPMRC Global Patient Movement Requirements Center
GPO Government Printing Office (federal)
GP General Practitioner
GP General Provision
GPS Global Positioning System
GR General Revenue
DSHS Acronym List (updated February 2023) Page | 21
GRD General Revenue - Dedicated
GRE Graduate Records Examination
GSA General Services Administration (federal)
GSUL Ground Support Unit Leader
GUI Graphical User Interface
H top
Acronym Meaning
H
2
O Molecular Formula for Water
HACCP Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (system)
HAASC Hospital-Affiliated Ambulatory Surgical Center
HAB HIV/AIDS Bureau (federal)
HAC Healthcare Acquired Condition
HAI Healthcare Acquired Infection
HAN Health Alert Network
HAP Hemophilia Assistance Program
HASC Hospital Ambulatory Surgical Center
HAV Hepatitis A Virus
HAvBED Hospital Available Beds for Emergencies and Disasters
HAZMAT Hazardous Materials
HB House Bill
HB2020 Healthy Border 2020
HBP Hospital-Based Physician
HBV Hepatitis B Virus
HCATS HHS Contract Administration Tracking System
HCBS Home and Community Based Services
HCCS Health Coordination and Consumer Services
HCH Health Care for the Homeless
HCID High Consequence Infectious Disease
HCL Hot Card List (WIC)
HCP Health Care Provider
HCPCS Healthcare Common Procedure Coding System
HCS Health Care Systems
HCS Home and Community-Based Services
HCS-W Home and Community-Based Services Waiver Program
HCSSA Home and Community Support Services Agency
HCV Hepatitis C Virus
HCW Health Care Worker
HD Hansen's Disease
HDIS Health, Developmental and Independence Services
HDM Home Delivered Meals
DSHS Acronym List (updated February 2023) Page | 22
HEART HHS Enterprise Administrative Report and Tracking System
HEDIS Healthcare Effectiveness Data and Information Set
HEENT Head, Eyes, Ears, Nose and Throat
HEPR Health Emergency Preparedness and Response
Hgb or HB Hemoglobin or Hemoglobin Types
HHA Home Health Agency
HHA Home Health Aide
H-HOUR Hazard Hour
HHS Health and Human Services
HHSAS Health and Human Services Administrative System
HHSC Health and Human Services Commission (Texas)
HIAP Health in all Policies
Hib Haemophilus Influenzae Type B
HICAP Health Information Counseling and Advocacy Program
HICS Hospital Incident Command System
HIE Health Information Exchange
HIM Health Information Management
HIMSS Health Information Management Systems Society
HIPAA Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act
HIPP Health Insurance Premium Payment
HIPPS Health Insurance Prospective Payment System
HIT Health Information Technology
HITECH Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Heath
(Act)
HIV Human Immunodeficiency Virus
HJR House Joint Resolution
HL7 Health Level Seven (electronic standards organization)
HMO Health Maintenance Organization
HMO/POS Health Maintenance Organizations with Point-of-Service
HMOs Health Maintenance Organizations
HND Hemolytic Disease of the Newborn
HOPWA Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS
HPC Health Professions Council (Texas)
HPCDP Health Promotion and Chronic Disease Prevention (DSHS)
HPMS Health Plan Management System
HPP Hospital Preparedness Program
HPRC Health Professions Resource Center
HPSA Health Professional Shortage Area
HPV Human Papillomavirus
HQ Headquarters
DSHS Acronym List (updated February 2023) Page | 23
HR Human Remains
HR Human Resources
HRC Human Resources Code
HRD Human Resource Development
HRF Homeland Response Force
HRG Hospital Receiving Group
HRO High Reliability Organization
HRO House Research Organization
HRSA Health Resources and Services Administration (federal)
HSA Health Savings. Account
HSAC Healthcare Safety Advisory Committee
HSAS Health and Human Services Administrative System
HSG Health Services Gateway
HSI Health Status Indicators
HSP HUB Subcontracting Plan
HSR Health Service Region
HST Human Services Technician
HTLV-III Human T-lymphocyte virus, type III
HTML Hypertext Markup Language
HTW Healthy Texas Women (HHSC)
HUB Historically Underutilized Business
HUD Housing and Urban Development, Department (federal)
I top
Acronym Meaning
I&R Information and Referral
IA Internal Audit, DSHS
IAC Interagency Contract
IAC Interagency Cooperative Agreement
IAD Internal Audit Division, HHSC
IAF Inter-American Foundation
IAMFES International Association of Milk, Food, and Environmental
Sanitarians
IAP Incident Action Plan
IAP Innovation Accelerator Program
IAPD Implementation Advance Planning Document
IAW In Accordance With
IBC Integrated Benefits Card
IBIS Integrated Business Information System
DSHS Acronym List (updated February 2023) Page | 24
IC Incident Commander
ICD International Classification of Diseases
ICD-10 International Classification of Diseases and Related Health
Problems, 10
th
edition
ICE Immigration and Customs Enforcement (federal)
ICEA International Childbirth Education Association
ICF Intermediate Care Facility
ICF/IID Intermediate Care Facility for Individuals with an Intellectual
Disability or Related Conditions
ICM Integrated Care Management
ICP Incident Command Post
ICS Incident Command System
ICST Immediate Care Strike Team
ICT Information Communications Technology
ICU Intensive Care Unit
ID Identification
ID Intellectual Disability
IDCU Infectious Disease Control Unit (DSHS)
IDD Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities
IDEA Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (P.L. 102-119)
IDPS Infectious Disease Prevention Section
ID/RC Intellectual Disability/Related Condition
IDRU Infectious Disease Response Unit
IDT Interdisciplinary Team
IE Internet Explorer
IEP Individualized Education Program
IF Infant Feeding
IFB Invitation for Bid
IFGP Individual and Family Grant Program
IG Inspector General
IGII Inspector General Integrity Initiative
IGT Intergovernmental Transfer
IHE Integrating the Healthcare Enterprise
IHFS In-Home and Family Support (defunct program)
IHS Indian Health Service (federal)
IL Independent Living
ILI Influenza-Like Illness
ILL Inter-Library Loan
IM Instant Messaging
IMAT Incident Management Assistance Team
DSHS Acronym List (updated February 2023) Page | 25
IMDs Institutions for Mental Diseases (Medicaid)
IMPROVE Interactive Medicaid Provider Voice
IMR Infant Mortality Rate
IMT Incident Management Team
IND Improvised Nuclear Device
INH Isoniazid
IOC Informal Offer Confirmation
IOC Interagency Obesity Council
IOM Institute of Medicine
IP Improvement Plan
IPA Independent Physicians Association
IPA Independent Practice Association
IPC Individual Plan of Care
IQ Intellectual Quotient
IQF Interactive Quality Forums
IRA Individual Retirement Account
IRB Institutional Review Board
IRM Information Resource Manager
IRM Information Response Management
IRS Internal Revenue Service
IRSP Information Resources Strategic Plan
ISAS Integrated Statewide Administrative System
ISBN International Standard Book Number
ISCCP Immediate Services Crisis Counseling Program
ISD Independent School District
ISDN Integrated Services Digital Network
ISP Individual Service Plan
ISSN International Standard Serial Number
IT Information Technology
ITBO Information Technology Business Operations
ITEAMS Inventory Tracking Electronic Asset Management System
ITV Interagency Transaction Voucher
IV Intravenous
IVDU Intravenous Drug User
IVR Interactive Voice Response
J top
Acronym Meaning
JADA Journal of American Dietetic Association
JAMA Journal of the American Medical Association
DSHS Acronym List (updated February 2023) Page | 26
JAVMA Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association
JCAHO Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations
(now known as the Joint Commission)
JFO Joint Field Office
JIC Joint Information Center
JP Justice of the Peace
JPATS Joint Patient Assessment and Tracking System
JPMT Joint Patient Movement Team
JPRT Joint Patient Reporting Team
JTF Joint Task Force
K top
Acronym Meaning
KAB Knowledge, Attitude, Behavior
KABB Knowledge, Attitude, Behavior, and Beliefs
KHC Kidney Health Care
KSAs Knowledge, Skills, Abilities
KSH Kerrville State Hospital
L top
Acronym Meaning
LA Local Authority
LAB Laboratory
LAN Local Area Network
LAR Legally Authorized Representative
LAR Legislative Appropriations Request
LBB Legislative Budget Board
LBHA Local Behavioral Health Authority
LBO Legislative Budget Office
LBSW Licensed Baccalaureate Social Worker
LBW Low Birth Weight
LCDC Licensed Chemical Dependency Counselor
LCRA Lower Colorado River Authority
LCSW Licensed Clinical Social Worker
LD Licensed Dietitian
LE Law Enforcement
LEA Local Education Agency
LEP Limited English Proficiency
LEPC Local Emergency Planning Committee
LHA Local Health Authority
DSHS Acronym List (updated February 2023) Page | 27
LHD Local Health Department or Local Health District
LIDDA Local Intellectual and Developmental Disability Authority
LIDS Laboratory and Infectious Disease Services (DSHS)
LIS Library and Information Science
LLR Labor, Licensing and Regulation
LMFT Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist
LMHA Local Mental Health Authority
LMSW Licensed Master Social Worker
LNO Liaison Officer
LOA Leave of Absence
LOA Letters of Agreement
LOC Legislative Oversight Committee
LOC Level of Care
LOC Library of Congress
LOC Loss of Consciousness
LOFR Liaison Officer
LOGS Logistics Section
LOI Letter of Intent
LON Level of Need
LOS Length of Stay
LP Licensed Paramedic
LP Licensed Prosthetist
LPA Licensed Psychological Associate
LPC Licensed Professional Counselor
LPHR Local Public Health Region
LPHR Act Local Public Health Reorganization Act
(Chapter 121 of the Texas Health and Safety Code)
LPHS Local Public Health System
LRGV Lower Rio Grande Valley
LRN Laboratory Response Network
LRN Learning Resource Network
LRT Logistics Resource Tracker
LSA Logistical Staging Area
LSC Legal Services Corporation
LSC Logistics Section Chief
LSS Laboratory Services Section
LSS Logistics Staging Site
LSW Licensed Social Worker
LTAC Long-Term Acute Care
LTBI Latent Tuberculosis Infection
LTC Long-Term Care
DSHS Acronym List (updated February 2023) Page | 28
LTCO Long-Term Care Ombudsman
LTC-P Long-Term Care Partnership
LTPAC Long-Term and Post-Acute Care
LTS Legislative Tracking System
LTSS Long Term Services and Supports
LVN Licensed Vocational Nurse
LWOP Leave Without Pay
M top
Acronym Meaning
MA Medical Assistant
MA Mortuary Affairs
MAA Mutual Aid Agreement
MAB Medical Advisory Board
MAC Medicaid Administrative Claiming
MACC Multi-Agency Coordination Center
MACG Multi-Agency Coordination Group
MACRA Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act (2015)
MACS Multi-Agency Coordination System
MALC Mexican-American Legislative Caucus
MAO Medical Assistance Only
MARC Machine Readable Cataloguing
MASF Medical Air Staging Facility
MASF Mobile Aeromedical Staging Facilities
MB Medical Barrier (Under Kennedy Sub Scales, State Hospital)
MBCC Medicaid for Breast and Cervical Cancer
MBDA Minority Business Development Agency
MC Mail Code
MCAC Medical Care Advisory Committee
MCH Maternal and Child Health
M-CHAT-R Modified Checklist for Autism in Toddlers Revised
MCHB Maternal and Child Health Bureau (federal)
MCI Mass Casualty Incident
MCM Medical Case Management
MCM Medical Countermeasures
MCN Migrant Clinicians Network
MCNA Managed Care of North America, Inc.
MCO Managed Care Organization
MCP Mobile Command Post
MCP Monthly Capitation Payment
DSHS Acronym List (updated February 2023) Page | 29
MCS Medicaid and CHIP Services
MD Doctor of Medicine (allopathic)
MDCP Medically Dependent Children Program
MDO Managed Document Output
MDR-TB Multi-Drug Resistant Tuberculosis
MDT Management Directed Transfer
MDT Multi-Disciplinary Team
MDU Multiple Disabilities Unit
ME Medicaid Eligible
ME Medical Examiner
MED Medical Insurance
MEDEVAC Medical Evacuation
MEDL Medical Unit Leader
MEHIS Medicaid Eligibility and Health Information System
MEPD Medicaid for the Elderly and People with Disabilities
MEPS Medical Expenditure Panel Survey
MEQC Medicaid. Eligibility Quality Control
MERP Medicaid Estate Recovery Program
MFADS Medicaid Fraud and Abuse Detection System
MFCU Medicaid Fraud Control Unit
MFI Mass Fatality Incident
MFM Mass Fatality Management
MFW Mother-Friendly Worksite
MFT Marriage and Family Therapist
MH Mental Health
MHA Mental Health Authority
MHC Migrant Health Center
MHE Medical Handling Equipment
MHS Military Health System (federal)
MHSA Mental Health and Substance Abuse
MHT Mental Health Team
MHT Mental Health Transformation
MHT SIG Mental Health Transformation State Incentive Grant
MICU Mobile Intensive Care Unit
MID Mild Intellectual Disability
MIEP Medical Institution Evacuation Plan
MIHIA Maternal and Infant Health Improvement Act
MIP Medicaid Integrity Program
MIPS Merit-based Incentive Payment System
MIRP Major Information Resources Project
DSHS Acronym List (updated February 2023) Page | 30
MIS Management Information System
MIST Medical Incident Support Team
MLIS Master of Library and Information Science
MLS Master of Library Science
MMC Medicaid Managed Care
MMIS Medicaid Management Information System
MMM Maternal Morbidity and Mortality
MMMFT Maternal Morbidity and Mortality Task Force
MMR Maternal Mortality Review
MMR Measles, Mumps, and Rubella (vaccine)
MMRS Metropolitan Medical Response System
MMWR Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report
MMT Mobile Medical Team
MMU Mobile Medical Unit
MMWR Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (CDC newsletter)
MN Medical Necessity
MNIL Medically Needy Income Limit
MNP Medically Needy Program
MO Monitoring Oversight
MOA Memorandum of Agreement
MOC Medical Operations Center
MOD March of Dimes
MOE Maintenance of Effort
MOF Method of Finance
MOLA Master Operating Lease Agreement
MOU Memorandum of Understanding
MPA Master of Public Administration
MPEC Medicaid Provider Enrollment Compendium
MPH Master of Public Health
MPI Medicaid Program Integrity
MPV Multiple Patient Vehicle
MQMB Medicaid Qualified Medicare Beneficiary
MQSA Mammography Quality Standards Act of 1992 (21 CFR part 900)
MR Mail Room
MRC Medical Reserve Corps (federal)
MRI Magnetic Resonance Imaging
MRN Morgue Reference Number
MRSA Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus
MS1 Medical Service 1
MSA Medical Savings Account
DSHS Acronym List (updated February 2023) Page | 31
MSA Metropolitan Statistical Area or Metropolitan Service Area
MSAT Mobile Satellite
MSHP Master of Science in Health Professions
MSIS Master of Science in Information Science
MSN Medical Special Needs
MSU Maximum Security Unit
MT (ASCP) Medical Technologist (American Society for Clinical Pathology)
MTB Mycobacterium Tuberculosis
MTF Medical Treatment Facility
MTP Medical Transportation Program
MTST Medical Transportation Strike Team
MU Meaningful Use
MUA Medically Underserved Area
MUP Medically Underserved Population
MYA Mid-Year Assessment
N
top
Acronym Meaning
NACCHO National Association of County and City Health Officials
NACDD National Association of Chronic Disease Directors
NACDD National Association of Councils on Developmental Disabilities
NACHC National Association of Community Health Centers
NAHDO National Association of Health Data Organizations
NAIC National Association of Insurance Commissioners
NALBOH National Association of Local Boards of Health
NAMCR National Association of Managed Care Regulators
NAPHSIS National Association for Public Health Statistics and Information
Systems
NAPNAP National Association of Pediatric Nurses and Practitioners
NAR Nurse Aide Registry
NAS Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome
NASHP National Academy of State Health Policy
NASPO National Association of State Procurement Officials
NASW National Association of Social Workers
NATCEP Nursing Aide Training and Competency Evaluation Program
NAWAS National Warning System
NBS NEDSS Based System
NBS Newborn Screening
NBS/CCC Newborn Screening/Clinical Care Coordination
NBSAC Newborn Screening Advisory Committee
DSHS Acronym List (updated February 2023) Page | 32
NCAA National Commission for Certifying Agencies
NCCHC National Commission on Correctional Health Care
NCCP National Continued Competency Program
NCFH National Center for Farmworker Health
NCHHSTP National Center for HIV/AIDS, Viral Hepatitis, STD, and
TB Prevention (CDC)
NCHS National Center for Health Statistics
NCI National Cancer Institute
NCQA National Committee for Quality Assurance
NCSAB National Council of State Agencies for the Blind
NDA Non-Disclosure Agreement
NDMS National Disaster Medical System (federal)
NECS Nutrition Education Clinic Services
NEDSS National Electronic Disease Surveillance System
NEJM New England Journal of Medicine
NF Nursing Facility
NFA Nursing Facility Administrator
NFP Nursing Family Partnership
NFPA National Fire Protection Association
NGA HR NorthgateArinso (HR and Payroll Services Contractor)
NGRI Not Guilty by Reason of Insanity
NHANES National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey
NHC National Hurricane Center
NHIS National Health Interview Survey
NHLBI National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute
NHSC National Health Service Corps
NHTSA National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
NIA National Institute on Aging
NIAID National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases
NICU Neonatal Intensive Care Unit
NIFA National Institute of Food and Agriculture
NIGP National Institute of Governmental Purchasing
NIH National Institutes of Health
NIMBY Not in My Back Yard
NIMHD National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities
NIMS National Incident Management System
NIOSH National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (federal)
NIS National Immunization Surveys
NLM National Library of Medicine
NMRT National Medical Response Team
DSHS Acronym List (updated February 2023) Page | 33
NOA Notice of Award
NOAA National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
NOC National Operations Center
NOGA Notice of Grant Award
NOK Next of Kin
NORS National Outbreak Reporting System
NOV Notice of Violation
NP Nurse Practitioner
NPDB National Practitioner Data Bank
NPI National Provider Identifier
NPI Non Pharmaceutical Intervention
NPO Nonprofit Organization
NQF National Quality Forum
NRC Nuclear Regulatory Commission
NREMT National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians
NRF National Response Framework
NRHA National Rural Health Association
NRP National Response Plan
NRT Nicotine Replacement Therapy
NSAC Newborn Screening Advisory Committee
NSC National Safety Council
NSS Network Support Specialist
NSS Nutrition Services Section
NTD Neural Tube Defect
NTID National Technical Institute for the Deaf
NTIS National Technical Information Service
NTSH North Texas State Hospital
NUPAW Nutrition and Physical Activity Workgroup
NVAC National Vaccine Advisory Committee
NVPO National Vaccine Program Office
NVOAD National Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster
NWA National WIC Association
NwHIN Nationwide Health Information Network
NWS National Weather Service
O top
Acronym Meaning
O
2
Molecular Formula for Oxygen
OAA Office of Academic Affairs (DSHS - became OPL in 2020)
OAA Older Americans Act
DSHS Acronym List (updated February 2023) Page | 34
OAE Otoacoustic Emissions
OAG Office of the Attorney General
OASDI Old Age Survivors and Disability Insurance Program (Social
Security)
OASH Office of the Assistant Secretary of Health (federal)
OB Obstetrics
OBH Office of Border Health
OBRA Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (amendment to Social
Security Act)
OCC Office of Chief Counsel
OCC Outside Counsel Contract
OCS Office of Community Services
ODIC Office of Disability, Integration and Coordination
ODPC Office of Disability Prevention for Children
OECC Office of Early Childhood Coordination
OEFV Oral Evaluation and Fluoride Varnish
OeHC Office of eHealth Coordination
OEM Office of Emergency Management
OEM Original Equipment Manufacturer
OFR Office of the Federal Register
OGC Office of General Counsel
OGSM Office of Grants Systems Management (federal)
OHP Oral Health Program
OHS Office of Health Services
OIA Office of Internal Audit (DSHS, prior to 9/1/2017)
OIG Office of Inspector General
OLF Optional Life Insurance
OMB Office of Management and Budget (federal)
OMR Open Market Requisition
ONA Other Needs Assistance
ONC Office of the National Coordinator of Health Information
Technology
OO Office of the Ombudsman
OOL Open Office Landscape (i.e., cubicles)
OOO Out of Office
OPBD Operations Branch Director
OPDS Office of Program Decision Support, DSHS
OPE Online Provider Education
OPH Office of Public Health
OPHPR Office of Public Health Preparedness and Response (CDC)
DSHS Acronym List (updated February 2023) Page | 35
OPL Office of Practice and Learning (DSHS – formerly OAA)
OPL Online Provider Look-up
OPP Office of Policy and Performance (DSHS)
OPS Operations Section Chief
OPSMGT Operations Management
OPV/IPV Polio Vaccine
OR Odds Ratios
OR Operating Room
ORC Open Records Coordinator
ORR Open Records Request
ORVP Oral Rabies Vaccination Program
OSHA Occupational Safety and Health Administration (federal)
OSOS HHS Online Office Supply Ordering System
OT Occupational Therapy
OT Occupational Therapist
OTC Over the Counter
OTO Office of the Ombudsman (HHS)
OUO Official Use Only
OVFM Office of Vehicle Fleet Management
P top
Acronym Meaning
P&I Plans and Intelligence Section
P&Ps Policies and Procedures
PA Participant Access
PA Physician Assistant
PA Physician’s Authorization
PA Prior Authorization
PA Public Assistance
PAC Performing Agency Contract
PACE Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly
PACT Program for Amplification for Children of Texas
PADC Plan to Allocate Direct Costs
PAE Preventable Adverse Event
PAL Preparation for Adult Living
PAHO Pan American Health Organization
PAHPA Pandemic and All Hazards Preparedness Act
PALS Pediatric Advanced Life Support
PAN Primary Account Number
PAN Prior Authorization Number
DSHS Acronym List (updated February 2023) Page | 36
PAO Public Assistance Officer
PAP Patient Assistance Program
PAPD Planning Advanced Planning Document
PAPR Powered Air Purifying Respirator
PAR Personnel/Property Accountability Report
PAR Progress Assessment Report
PASRR Preadmission Screening and Resident Review
PAT Performance Assessment Tool
PAX Passengers
Pb Chemical Symbol for Lead
PB Psychological Barrier (Under Kennedy Sub Scales, State
Hospital)
PBHS Professional Behavioral Health Services
PBM Pharmacy Benefits Manager
PCA Primary Care Association
PCC Preparedness Coordinating Council
PCC Purchase Category Code
PCCM Primary Care Case Management
PCM Patient-Centered Management
PCMH Patient-Centered Medical Home
PCO Primary Care Office
PCP Primary Care Physician / Primary Care Provide
PCR Polymerase Chain Reaction
PCS Personal Care Services
PCS Procurement and Contracting Services
PCS Provider Claims Services
PCT/PCA Patient Care Technician/Patient Care Assistant
PCV13 Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine 13
PD Property Damage
PDA Personal Digital Assistant
PDA Preliminary Damage Assessment
PDF Portable Document Format
PDL Preferred Drug List
PDP Person Directed Plan
PDR Physicians' Desk Reference
PE Physical Exam
PE Presumptive Eligibility
PED Portable Electronic Device
PEDS Parents' Evaluation of Developmental Status
PEP Pregnancy, Education, and Parenting Program
DSHS Acronym List (updated February 2023) Page | 37
PERF Perfusionist
PERM Payment Error Rate Measurement
PEST Pesticide Exposure Surveillance in Texas
PETS Pets Evacuation and Transportation Standards (act)
PFA Psychological First Aid
PFAF Pediatric Flu Associated Fatality
PFD Proposal for Decision
PHA Public Housing Authorities
PHAB Public Health Accreditation Board
PHAP Public Health Action Plan
PHARMD Doctor of Pharmacy
PHC Primary Health Care
PHC Primary Home Care
PhD Philosophiae Doctor (Doctor of Philosophy)
PHEIC Public Health Emergencies of International Concern
PHEP Public Health Emergency Preparedness
PHFPC Public Health Funding Policy Committee
PHI Protected Health Information
PHIN Public Health Information Network
PHMOT Public Health Museum of Texas
PHMPRP Public Health and Medical Preparedness and Response Plan
PHN Public Health Nurse
PHOs Physician-Hospital Organizations
PHP Prepaid Health Plan
PHP Public Health Preparedness
PHP Public Health Promotion
PHPS Public Health Prevention Service
PHPU Public Health Preparedness Unit
PHR Public Health Region
PHR Personal Health Record
PHS Public Health Service (federal)
PHTLS Prehospital Trauma Life Support
PI Personal Injury
PI Program Income
PI Promoting Independence
PI Public Information
PIC Provider Information Change
PID Pelvic Inflammatory Disease
PIER Public Information, Education, and Relations
PII Personally Identifiable Information
PIN Personal Identification Number / Payee Identification Number
DSHS Acronym List (updated February 2023) Page | 38
PINS Priority Information Need
PIO Public Information Officer
PIP Program Improvement Plan
PIR Public Information Request
PKU Phenylketonuria (disorder identified through newborn screening)
PL Public Law
PLCU Professional Licensing and Certification Unit (DSHS)
P.M. Abbreviation for Latin ‘Post Meridien’, translating to ‘After
Midday’.
PM Abbreviation for Latin ‘Post Mortem’, translating to ‘After Death’.
PM Project Manager
PM Prime Minister
PM/PM Per Member/Per Month
PMAB Prevention and Management of Aggressive Behavior
PMO Project Management Office
PMPM Per Member Per Month
PMR Patient Movement Request
PMRS Project Management and Repository System
PMU Performance Management Unit (DSHS)
PNA Personal Needs Allowance
PNA Psychiatric Nursing Assistant
PNP Pediatric Nurse Practitioner
PO Purchase Order
POA Present on Admission
POB Place of Birth
POC Plan of Care
POC Point of Contact
POCN Purchase Order Change Notice
POD Point of Distribution / Point of Dispensing
POMR Problem Oriented Medical Record
POP Principles of Practice
POS Place of Service / Point of Service
POV Privately Owned Vehicle
PPA Private Practice Assignment
PPACA Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act
PPC Preparedness Coordination Council
PPCU Preventive and Primary Care Unit (DSHS)
PPD Partial Per Diem
PPD Purified Protein Derivative
PPE Personal Protective Equipment
DSHS Acronym List (updated February 2023) Page | 39
PPFA Planned Parenthood Federation of America
PPHF Prevention and Public Health Fund
PPI Producer Price Index
PPM Parts Per Million
PPMS Publishing, Promotion, and Media Services
PPO Private Practice Option
PPO Preferred Provider Organization
PPOs Preferred Provider Organizations
PPS Prospective Payment System
PPSV23 Pneumococcal Polysaccharide Vaccine 23
PPV Private Practice Volunteer
PR Price Request
PR Public Relations
PRA Personal Responsibility Agreement
PRAMS Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring Survey
PRAR Provider Relations Activity Report
PRC Provider Relations Consultant
PRF Purchase Request Form
PRO Peer Review Organizations
PROC Procurement Section
PROVE Parents Requesting Open Vaccine Education
PRP Preparedness and Response Plan
PRR Provider Relations Representative
PRT Program Recovery Team
PS Program Services
PSA Public Service Announcement
PSC Plans Section Chief / Plans Section Coordinator
PSC Program Support Center (federal)
PSC-35 Pediatric Symptoms Checklist
PSO Program Support Operations
PSOB Program Services and Operations Branch
PSOs Provider Sponsored Organizations
PSPA Professional Services Procurement Act
PSQA Policy, Standards, and Quality Assurance
PSR Professional Standards Review Organization
PT Physical Therapist / Physical Therapy
PT Planning Team
PTM Planning Team Meeting
PTP Point to Point
PTSD Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
DSHS Acronym List (updated February 2023) Page | 40
PUDF Public Use Data File
PZA Pyrazinamide
Q top
Acronym Meaning
QA Quality Assessment / Quality Assurance
QA/UR Quality Assurance/Utilization Review
QAC Quality Assurance Committee
QAF Quality Assurance Fee
QAIS Quality Assurance and Improvement Plan
QAP Quality Assessment Plan / Quality Assurance Program
QARI Quality Assurance Reform Initiative
QAT Quality Assurance Team
QCC Qualified Credentialed Counselor
QDDP Qualified Development Disabilities Professional
QI Qualified Individual / Quality and Innovation / Quality
Improvement
QIDP Qualified Intellectual Disabilities Professional
QIO Quality Improvement Organizations
QIPP Quality Incentive Payment Program
QMB Qualified Medicare Beneficiary
QMB Quality Management Branch
QMHP-CS Qualified Mental Health Professional – Community Services
QMR Quarterly Monitoring Report
QUARI Quality Assurance Reform Initiative
R top
Acronym Meaning
R&S Remittance and Status Report
RAC Regional Advisory Council / Regional Advisory Committee
RAC Residency Advisory Committee
RACES Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Services
RAS Regional Administrative Services
RAT Rapid Assessment Team
RBRVS Resource-Based Relative Value Scale
RC Related Condition
RC Residential Care
RCCL Residential Child-Care Licensing
RCV Regional Communications Vehicle
DSHS Acronym List (updated February 2023) Page | 41
RD Regional Director
RD Registered Dietitian
RDA Recommended Daily Allowance
REC Regional Extension Center
REHS/RS Registered Environmental Health Specialist/Registered Sanitarian
REMR Regional Emergency Medical Response
REP Representative
REQ Requisition
RERT Radiological Emergency Response Team
RESL Resource Unit Leader
RETA Regional Ebola Transportation Ambulance
RFA Request for Application
RFI Request for Information
RFID Radio Frequency Identification
RFO Request for Offer
RFP Request for Proposal
RFQ Request for Qualification
RFQ Request for Quote
RFT Rapid Flu Test
RGSC Rio Grande State Center
RHA Regional Health Administrator (federal)
RHC Rural Health Clinic
RHIO Regional Health Information Organization
RHMOC Regional Health and Medical Operations Center
RHSP Refugee Health Screening Program
RIA Radioimmunoassay
RIF Reduction in Force
RIMS Risk and Insurance Management Society
RIT Requisition Intake Team
RLHO Regional and Local Health Operations (DSHS)
RLO Regional Liaison Officer
RMD Regional Medical Director
RMFM Regional Mass Fatality Management
RMO Records Management Officer
RMOC Regional Medical Operations Center
RMT Risk Management Team
RN Registered Nurse
RNST Registered Nurse Strike Team
ROC Regional Operations Center
RODS Real-time Outbreak Detection and Surveillance
DSHS Acronym List (updated February 2023) Page | 42
RPC Regional Program Consultant
RPH Registered Pharmacist
RR Relative Risk
RRF Resource Request Form
RRR Readiness, Response, Recovery
RRT Rapid Response Team
RRT Registered Respiratory Therapist
RS Registered Sanitarian
RSA Regional Staging Area
RSA Rehabilitation Services Administration
RSA Resources Staging Area
RSAR-H Regional Search and Rescue for Catastrophic Hurricanes
RSAR-IED Regional Search and Rescue for Improvised Explosive Devices
RSCCP Regular Services Crisis Counseling Program
RSH Rusk State Hospital
RSPA Research and Special Programs Administration
RSS Receiving, Staging, and Storing
RSS Residential Support Services
RSV Respiratory Syncytial Virus
RTI Recurring Transaction Index
RtR Request to Retain
RUC Regional Unified Command
RUG Resource Utilization Group
RVU Relative Value Unit
Rx Prescription Medication
S top
Acronym Meaning
SA Substance Abuse (Under Kennedy Sub Scales, State Hospital)
SAA State Administrative Agency
SACC State Agency Coordinating Committee
SAD Single Audit Determination
SAHM Society for Adolescent Health and Medicine
SALT State Agency Libraries of Texas
SAM Stand-alone Action Memo
SAM System for Award Management
SAMHSA Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
(federal)
SAO State Auditor’s Office (Texas)
SAR Search and Rescue
DSHS Acronym List (updated February 2023) Page | 43
SASH San Antonio State Hospital
SAU Single Audit Unit
SAVERR System for Application Verification Eligibility Referral and
Reporting
SB Senate Bill
SBA Small Business Administration
SBD Statewide Budget Division (Texas Governor’s Office)
SBHC School-Based Health Center
SC Service Coordination
SC State Coordinator
SCAC Sickle Cell Advisory Committee
SCBA Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus
SCHIP State Children’s Health Insurance Program (see Title XXI)
SCI Spinal Cord Injury
SCKN Status/Check-In Recorder
SCO State Coordinating Officer
SCOR System of Contract Operation and Reporting
SCP Senior Companion Program
SCSEP Senior Community Service Employment Program
SDA Service Delivery Area
SDA Standard Dollar Amount
SDI Service Delivery Integration
SDLC Software Development Lifecycle
SDLC Standards Development Lifecycle
SDO Standards Development Organization
SDO Standing Delegation Orders
SERG SAMHSA Emergency Response Grant
SERT State Emergency Response Team
SETRAC Southeast Texas Regional Advisory Council
SFY State Fiscal Year (September 1 - August 31)
SGA Small for Gestational Age
SHA State Health Agencies
SHAC School Health Advisory Council
SHARS School Health and Related Services
SHCC Statewide Health Coordinating Council
SHL Supported Home Living
SHSS Specialized Health Services Section
SID Surface Identification
SIDS Sudden Infant Death Syndrome
SIP Shelter in Place
DSHS Acronym List (updated February 2023) Page | 44
SITL Situation Unit Leader
SITMAN Situation Manual
SITREP Situation Report
SJR Senate Joint Resolution
SKIP State Kids’ Insurance Program
SL Supervised Living
SLIAG State Legalization Impact Assistance Grants
SLAITS State and Local Area Integrated Telephone Survey
SLMB Specified Low-Income Medicare Beneficiary
SLP Sick Leave Pool
SME Subject Matter Expert
SMHF State Mental Health Facility
SMI State Median Income
SMOC State Medical Operations Center
SNAP Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program
SNF Skilled Nursing Facility
SNS Strategic National Stockpile
SNS Supplemental Nursing System
SO Safety Officer
SOAH State Office of Administrative Hearings
SOC State Operations Center
SOF State Operated Facility
SOFR Safety Officer
SOG Standard Operating Guideline
SOP Standard Operating Procedures
SOPHE Society for Public Health Education
SORH State Office of Rural Health
SORM State Office of Risk Management
SOS Secretary of State
SOW Statement of Work / Scope of Work
SP3 STAR+PLUS Pilot Program
SPA State Plan Amendment
SPARC Solution Planning and Architecture Review Committee
SPD State Procurement Division
SPEAR Sole Source Proprietary Emergency After the Fact Report
SPI Security and Privacy Inquiry
SPMP Skilled Professional Medical Personnel
SPNS Special Projects of National Significance
SRC State Records Center
SRO Service Responsibility Option
DSHS Acronym List (updated February 2023) Page | 45
SS Social Skills (Under Kennedy Sub Scales, State Hospital)
SSA Social Security Act
SSA Social Security Administration
SSAs Support services agreements
SSDI Social Security Disability Insurance
SSI Supplemental Security Income
SSLC State Supported Living Center
SSN Social Security Number
SSPD Special Services to Persons with Disabilities
SSPD-SAC Special Services to Persons with Disabilities/24-Hour Shared
Attendant Care
SSS System Support Services
ST Strike Team
STAM Staging Area Manager
STAR Services to At-Risk Youth
STAR State of Texas Access Reform (Medicaid Managed Care, HHSC)
STAR State of Texas Assistance Request
STAR+PLUS State of Texas Access Reform Plus Long Term Care
(Medicaid Managed Care, HHSC)
START Simple Triage and Rapid Treatment
STAT File Statistical File
STD Sexually Transmitted Disease
STEAR State of Texas Emergency Assistance Registry
STL Strike Team Leader
STMP State Travel Management Program
STP Significant Traditional Provider
STRAC Southwest Texas Regional Advisory Council
SUBD Support Branch Director
SUL Supply Unit Leader
SVBD Service Branch Director
SW Social Worker
SWI Statewide Intact
SWOT Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats
T top
Acronym Meaning
T&Cs Terms and Conditions
T&M Time and Materials
TA Technical Assistance
TAASA Texas Association against Sexual Assault
DSHS Acronym List (updated February 2023) Page | 46
TABC Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission
TAC Texas Administrative Code
TAC Texas Association of Counties
TACHC Texas Association of Community Health Centers
TACSAP Texas Association Concerned with School-Aged Parenthood
TAFP Texas Academy of Family Physicians
TAG Texas Adjutant General
TAHC Texas Animal Health Commission
TAHP Texas Association of Health Plans
TAHSA Texas Association of Homes and Services for the Aging
TALON Texas/Arkansas/Louisiana/Oklahoma/New Mexico
TALWD Texas Association of Local WIC Directors
TAMFES Texas Association of Milk, Food, and Environmental Sanitarians
TAMH Texas Association of Municipal Health Officials
TAMUS Texas A&M University System
TANF Temporary Assistance for Needy Families
TB Tuberculosis
TBD To Be Determined
TBETN TB Education and Training Network
TBI Traumatic Brain Injury
TBI Texas Breastfeeding Initiative
TBM Texas Baptist Men
TBP To Be Provided
TCA Texas Chiropractic Association
TCC Texas Cancer Council
TCCDS Texas Council on Cardiovascular Disease and Stroke
TCCO Texas Civil Commitment Office
TCDD Texas Council for Developmental Disabilities
TCEQ Texas Commission on Environmental Quality
TCFV Texas Council on Family Violence
TCHMB Texas Collaborative for Healthy Mothers and Babies
TCI Texas Correctional Industries
TCID Texas Center for Infectious Disease (DSHS)
TCID/WHL Texas Center for Infectious Disease/Women's Health Lab
TCL Target Capabilities List
TCM Targeted Case Management
TCNWS Texas Center for Nursing Workforce Studies
TCO Total Cost of Ownership
TCOOMMI Texas Correctional Office on Offenders with Medical or
Mental Impairments
DSHS Acronym List (updated February 2023) Page | 47
TCCCP Texas Comprehensive Cancer Control Program
TCPA Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts
TCR Texas Cancer Registry
TDA Texas Dental Association
TDA Texas Department of Agriculture
Tdap Tetanus, Diphtheria and Pertussis Vaccine
TDC Texas Diabetes Council
TDCI Texas Drug Code Index
TDCJ Texas Department of Criminal Justice
TDD/TTY Telecommunications System for the Deaf
TDEM Texas Division of Emergency Management
TDH Texas Department of Health (defunct agency)
TDHS Texas Department of Human Services (defunct agency)
TDI Texas Department of Insurance
TDIR Texas Department of Information Resources
TDLR Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation
TDMS Texas Disaster Medical System
TDVR Texas Disaster Volunteer Registry
TEA Texas Education Agency
TEAM Texas Elder Abuse and Mistreatment
TEC Texas Ethics Commission
TEEC Texas ESRD Emergency Coalition
TEFRA Tax Equity and Fiscal Responsibility Act of 1982
TEHA Texas Environmental Health Association
TEHDI Texas Early Hearing Detection and Intervention (DSHS - Texas
Newborn Hearing Screening Program)
TELETS Texas Law Enforcement Telecommunications System
TEX-AN Texas Agency Network (DIR)
TexReg Texas Register
TexShare Texas Statewide Consortium of Libraries that Share Services
TF Task Force
TFC Texas Facilities Commission
TFDA Texas Funeral Directors Association
TFDAMST TFDA Disaster Mortality Strike Team
TFDAST TFDA Strike Team
TFL Temporary Fuel Location
TFPP Texas Fraud Prevention Partnership
TFS Texas A&M Forest Service
TFS Texas Forest Service
TFSC Texas Funeral Services Commission
DSHS Acronym List (updated February 2023) Page | 48
THA Texas Hospital Association
THAI Texas Healthy Adolescent Initiative
THCA Texas Health Care Association
THCIC Texas Health Care Information Collection
THECB Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board
THI Texas Health Institute
THIRA Threat and Hazard Identification and Risk Assessment
THMP Texas HIV Medication Program
THP Texas Highway Patrol
THSA Texas Health Services Authority
THSSAA Texas Homeland Security State Administrative Agency
THSSP Texas Homeland Security Strategic Plan
THSteps Texas Health Steps
TIBH Texas Industries for the Blind and Handicapped
TICP Tactical Interoperable Communication Plan
TID Tooth Identification
TIERS Texas Integrated Eligibility and Redesign System
TIFI Texas Integrated Funding Initiative
TILES Texas Index for Level of Effort
TIMS Texas Inventory Management System
TIN Texas Identification Number
TINS Texas Identification Number System
TIOC Texas Interagency Obesity Council
TIRN Texas Information and Referral Network
TISWG Texas Immunization Stakeholder Working Group
TJJD Texas Juvenile Justice Department
TLC Transition to Living in Community
TLETS Texas Law Enforcement Telecommunications System
TMA Texas Medical Association
TMB Texas Medical Board
TMC Texas Medical Center
TMD Texas Military Department
TMDP Texas Medical Disclosure Panel
TMF Texas Military Forces
TMHP Texas Medicaid and Healthcare Partnership
TML Texas Municipal League
TMMIS Texas Medicaid Management Information System
TMOM Texas Mission of Mercy
TMORT Texas Mass Fatality Operations Response Team
TMPPM Texas Medicaid Provider Procedures Manual
DSHS Acronym List (updated February 2023) Page | 49
TMS Telecommunications Managed Services
TNA Texas Nurses Association
TOCC Texas Office of Civil Commitment
TORCH Texas Organization of Rural and Community Hospitals
TOS Type of Service
TPASS Texas Procurement and Support Services
TPC Tobacco Prevention and Control
TPCN Texas Poison Center Network
TPCO Texas Primary Care Office
TPEA Texas Public Employees Association
TPHA Texas Public Health Association
TPHRAT Texas Public Health Risk Assessment Tool
TPI Texas Provider Identifier
TPIA Texas Public Information Act
TPL Third Party Liability
TPR Third Party Recovery
TPS Texas Pediatric Society
TPSI Texas Preschool Screening Inventory
TQM Total Quality Management
TR Travel Request
TRAB Texas Radiation Advisory Board
TRAC Trauma Regional Advisory Council
TRAN Texas Rehabilitation Action Network
TRHA Texas Rural Health Association
TSA Texas Salvation Army
TSA Transportation Security Administration (federal)
TSA Trauma Service Area
TSBEMFT Texas State Board of Examiners of Marriage & Family Therapists
TSBEPC Texas State Board of Examiners of Professional Counselors
TSBESWE Texas State Board of Examiners of Social Worker Examiners
TSBVI Texas School for the Blind and Visually Impaired
TSCC Toxic Substances Coordinating Committee
TSD Texas School for the Deaf
TSEs Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathies
TSH Terrell State Hospital
TSHA Texas Speech-Language Hearing Association
TSHAC Texas School Health Advisory Committee
TSLAC Texas State Library and Archives Commission
TSOPHE Texas Society for Public Health Education
TST Tuberculin Skin Test
DSHS Acronym List (updated February 2023) Page | 50
TTY Teletype machine for hearing impaired
TTY-TDD Telephone Typewriter-Telecommunications Device for the Deaf
TUL Time Unit Leader
TVFC Texas Vaccines for Children
TVMA Texas Veterinary Medical Association
TWA Time Weight Average (8 hour)
TWC Texas Workforce Commission
TWIC Texas Workforce Investment Council
TX BIAC Texas Brain Injury Advisory Council
TxCLPPP Texas Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Program
TxDOT Texas Department of Transportation
TxDPS Texas Department of Public Safety
TXEVER Texas Electronic Vital Events Register
TXFS Texas Fleet Management System
TxHmL Texas Home Living
TXIN Texas Integrated Network
TXMAS Texas Multiple Award Schedule
TXMAT Texas Medical Assistance Team
TXQL Texas Quit Line
TxS2 Texas Syndromic Surveillance
TXSG Texas State Guard
TX-TF1 Texas Task Force One
TXVOAD Texas Voluntary Organizations Active in Disasters
TX WIC DI Texas WIC Dietetic Internship
TYTS Texas Youth Tobacco Survey
U top
Acronym Meaning
UA Uniform Assessment
UAS Unmanned Aircraft System
UASI Urban Areas Security Initiative
UAT User Acceptance Testing
UBS Unemployment Benefits Services
UC Unified Command
UCC Uniform Commercial Code (federal)
UDS Uniform Data System
UGG Uniform Grant Guidance (federal)
UGMS Uniform Grant Management Standards
UM Utilization Management
UMCC Uniformed Managed Care Contract
DSHS Acronym List (updated February 2023) Page | 51
UMCM Uniformed Managed Care Manual
UMO Unit of Measurement
UNICEF United Nations Children's Fund
UPL Upper Payment Limit
UR Utilization Review
USACE United States Army Corps of Engineers
USAR Urban Search and Rescue
USAS Uniform Statewide Accounting System
USC United States Code
USCA United States Code Annotated
USCG United States Coast Guard
USDA United States Department of Agriculture
USIA United States Information Agency
USLF Unmatched State and Local Funds
USMBHA U.S./Mexico Border Health Association
USMS United States Marshal Service
USNORTHCOM U.S. Northern Command (federal)
USP United States Pharmacopeia
USPHS United States Public Health Service
UT University of Texas
UTHSCD University of Texas Health Science Center Dallas
UTHSCH University of Texas Health Science Center Houston
UTHSCSA University of Texas Health Science Center San Antonio
UTMBG University of Texas Medical Branch Galveston
UTSPH University of Texas School of Public Health Houston
V top
Acronym Meaning
VA Veterans Administration
VAERS Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System
VB Violence Barrier (Under the Kennedy Sub Scales, State Hospital)
VBP Value-Based Payments
VCJD Variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease
VD Venereal Disease
VDP Vendor Drug Program
VFC Vaccines for Children
VHSS Vision, Hearing, and Spinal Screening
VIN Vendor Identification Number
VISTA Volunteers in Service to America
VMO Vendor Management and Operations
DSHS Acronym List (updated February 2023) Page | 52
VOAD Volunteer Organizations Active in Disaster
VPR Vendor Performance Report
VPTS Vendor Performance Tracking System
VR Vocational Rehabilitation
VRC Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor
VRS Vocational Rehabilitation Services
VSAT Very Small Aperture Terminal
VSU Vital Statistics Unit (DSHS)
VTM Viral Transport Media
W top
Acronym Meaning
WABA World Alliance for Breastfeeding Action
WAN Wide Area Network
WCY Waco Center for Youth
WDQS Web-based data query system
WebEOC Web Based Emergency Operations Center (software)
WH Women's Health
WHFP Women’s Health and Family Planning
WHL Women's Health Laboratory
WHO World Health Organization
WHP Women’s Health Program
WHR Women's Health Record
WIA Workforce Investment Act
WIC Women, Infants and Children (a supplemental food program)
WIN WIC Information Network
WMD Weapons of Mass Destruction
WOW Without Waiver Funding
WW With Waiver Funding
WWW World Wide Web
X top
Acronym Meaning
XDR TB Extensively Drug-Resistant Tuberculosis
Y top
Acronym Meaning
YES Youth Empowerment Services
Y-PSC Pediatric Symptom Checklist for Youth
DSHS Acronym List (updated February 2023) Page | 53
YRBS Youth Risk Behavior Survey
YTD Year-to-Date
Z top
Acronym Meaning
ZCB Zoonosis Control Branch
Other Abbreviations top
Abbreviation Meaning
HB 2292 Legislation passed in 2003 directing Texas health
and human services agencies to consolidate.
ImmTrac The Texas Immunization Registry.
Non-Participating Local health department that does not receive
state funds.
Partnership Texas State Strategic Health Partnership
SB 200 Legislation passed in 2015 directing the
transformation of Texas health and human
services agencies.
STAR Kids Texas Medicaid managed care program that provides
Medicaid benefits to children and adults 20 and
younger who have disabilities.
Stat United States Statutes at Large.
Texas I & R Network Texas Information and Referral Network.
Title V Title 5 = Maternal and Child Health Services title of
the Social Security Act of 1936 created a partnership
with State Maternal and Child Health (MCH) and
Children with Special Health Care Needs (CSHCN)
programs, reaching across economic lines to support
such core public health functions as resource
development, capacity and systems building,
population-based functions such as public
information and education, knowledge development,
DSHS Acronym List (updated February 2023) Page | 54
outreach and program linkage, technical assistance
to communities, and provider training.
Title IX Title 9 = No person in the United States shall, on the
basis of sex, be excluded from participation in, be
denied the benefits of, or be subjected to
discrimination under any education program or
activity receiving Federal financial assistance.
Title XVIII Title 18 of the Social Security Act, designated
“Health Insurance for the Aged and Disabled,” is
commonly known as Medicare. As part of the Social
Security Amendments of 1965, the Medicare
legislation established a health insurance program
for aged persons to complement the retirement,
survivors, and disability insurance benefits under
Title II of the Social Security Act.
Title XIX Title 19 of the Social Security Act is a Federal/State
entitlement program that pays for medical
assistance for certain individuals and families with
low incomes and resources. This program, known
as Medicaid, became law in 1965 as a cooperative
venture jointly funded by the Federal and State
governments (including the District of Columbia and
the Territories) to assist States in furnishing medical
assistance to eligible needy persons. Medicaid is the
largest source of funding for medical and health-
related services for America’s poorest people.
Title XXI Title 21 = Provides funds to states to enable them to
initiate and expand the provision of child health
assistance to uninsured, low-income children in an
effective and efficient manner.
