Regulations

Federal regulation is one of the basic tools government uses to carry out public policy. Agencies create regulations (also known as "rules") when Congress provides the authority to do so.

The public plays an extremely important role by commenting on proposed rules. These comments can help shape the decisions the Department makes.

Find and comment on rules

Below we provide information to help you particpate in the rulemaking process. We also provide updates about our retrospective review efforts, where we identify and review rules in order to eliminate ones that are obsolete, unnecessary, burdensome, or counterproductive. We modify others to increase their effectiveness, efficiency, and flexibility.

HHS Regulations

HHS Regulations by Operating Division

Administration for Children and Families (ACF)

Administration for Community Living (ACL)
Formerly the Administration on Aging, ACF's Administration on Developmental Disabilities, and the Office on Disability

Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ)

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)

Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS)

Food and Drug Administration (FDA)

Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA)

Indian Health Service (IHS)

National Institutes of Health (NIH)

Substance Abuse Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)

Affordable Care Act

The Department uses regulations and guidance to implement parts of the Affordable Care Act that deal with private and public health insurance.

Health Information Privacy (HIPAA)

HIPAA provides protections for personal health information and gives patients a variety of rights. Learn more about health information privacy.

Human Research Protections

If your institution is engaged in human subjects research (not otherwise exempt, and supported by HHS), your institution must have an Office for Human Research Protections-approved assurance of compliance with the HHS regulations for the protection of human subjects.

Health Information Technology

The Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health (HITECH) Act provides HHS with the authority to write regulations and guidance to support development of a nationwide health information technology infrastructure.