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Health Care Delivery

A Commissioned Corps of highly skilled and mobile health professionals was established in 1889 to work in the hospitals of the Service, to combat epidemics, and to respond quickly to other medical or public health emergencies anywhere in the United States and the world. At first the Corps was composed of only medical officers. Later, laws were enacted to include other health science disciplines.

The task of health care delivery and resource allocation lies primarily in the hands of the Health Resources and Services Administration. This includes supporting states and communities through the National Health Service Corps to plan and deliver health care, especially to people in medically underserved areas, migrant workers, mothers and children, and other groups with special needs; helping to improve the education and distribution of health workers; providing technical assistance for modernizing or replacing health care facilities; and administering the organ transplant program.

The Indian Health Service, which was made a separate agency in 1988, provides comprehensive health services for American Indians and Alaska Natives.

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