AAA                            Area Agency on Aging

ADL                            Activities of Daily Living

ALF                             Assisted Living Facility

ALJ                             Administrative Law Judge

AoA                             Administration on Aging

APS                             Adult Protective Services

BBA                            Balanced Budget Act or

CAHPS                       Consumer Assessment of Health Plans Study

CDC                           Centers for Disease Control

CHAMPUS                Civilian Health and Medical Program (Defense Dept.)

CHDR                        Center for Health Dispute Resolution

COBRA                      Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act

COLA                         Cost of Living Adjustment

CCAD                         Community Care for the Aged and Disabled

DAB                           Departmental Appeals Board

DME                          Durable Medical Equipment

DRG                           Diagnosis-Related Groups

ESRD                         End-Stage Renal Disease

EOMB                        Explanation of Medicare Benefits

FOIA                          Freedom of Information Act

FQHC                         Federal Qualified Health Centers

GHP                            (Employer) Group Health Program

HCFA                         Health Care Financing Administration

HEDIS                        Health Employer Data and Information Set

HIPPA                        Health Insurance Portability & Accountability Act

HHS                            Health and Human Services

HICAP                        Health Information Counseling and Advocacy Program

HMO                          Health Maintenance Organization

IHFSP                         In-Home Family Support Program (TDHS)

LHOT                         Legal Hotline for Older Texans

M + CO                      Medicare plus Choice Organization

MSN                           Medicare Summary Notice

MSA                           Medical Savings Account

NHIC                          National Heritage Insurance Company

NMEP                        National Medicare Education Program

OAA                           Older Americans Act

OASDI                       Old Age Survivors and Disability Insurance

PACE                          Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly

PCP                             Primary Care Physician

PFFS                           Private Fee-for-Service

PPO                            Preferred Provider Organization

PRO                            Peer Review Organization

POS                            Point of Service Organization

PSO                            Provider Sponsored Organization

QDWI                         Qualified Disabled and Working Individual

QI 1 & 2                     Qualified Individuals 1 & 2

QMB                          Qualified Medicare Beneficiary (Quimby)

REACH                      Regional Education about Choices in Health

RFBS                          Religious Fraternal Benefit Society Plan

RRB                           Railroad Retirement Board

SEP                             Special Election Period

SLMB                        Specified Low-Income Medicare Beneficiary (Slimby)

SHIP                           State Health Information and Assistance Program (SHIAP)

SNF                            Skilled Nursing Facility

SSA                             Social Security Administration

SSI                              Supplemental Security Income

TANF                         Temporary Assistance for Needy Families

TDH                           Texas Department of Health

TDHS                         Texas Department of Human Services

TDI                             Texas Department of Insurance

TDOA                         Texas Department on Aging

TLSC                          Texas Legal Services Center

TPRS                          Texas Protective and Regulatory Services

TRS                            Telecommunications Relay Service

TTY                            Text Telephone

VA                               Veterans Administration