Acronym

Term

AAA

Area Agency on Aging

AAHSA

American Association of Homes & Services for the Aging

AARP

American Association for Retired People

ADA

Americans with Disabilities Act

ADL

Activities of Daily Living

AHCA

American Health Care Association

AIDS

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome

AOA

Administration on Aging in HHS

BBA

Balanced Budget Act

BBAR

Balanced Budget Act Reconciliation

BOALTC

Board on Aging and Long Term Care

BQA

Bureau of Quality Assurance

CBRF

Community-Based Residential Facility

CCAC

Continuing Care Accreditation Commission

CCRC

Continuing Care Retirement Community

CHSRA

Center for Health Systems Research & Analysis

CLIA

Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments of 1988

CNA

Certified Nursing Assistant

CON

Certificate of Need

COP

Community Options Program

CPR

Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation

DCFS

DHFS Division of Children and Family Services

DD

Developmental Disabilities

Declaration to Physicians

Also referred to by the public as the “Living Will” - a form which enables a person to declare his or her wishes in advance concerning the use of life-sustaining procedures in the event of a terminal illness or injury when the person has become incompetent.

DNR

Do-Not-Resuscitate

DRGs

Diagnosis-Related Groups

DVR

Former Division of Vocational Rehabilitation

EAP

Employee Assistance Program

ED/DD

Developmentally Disabled Persons Who Are Also Emotionally Disturbed

EDS

Electronic Data Systems

EMT

Emergency Medical Technician

EPA

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

FAB

Fiscal Audit Bureau

FDA

U.S. Food and Drug Administration

FI

Fiscal Intermediary

FY

Fiscal Year

GAO

General Accounting Office

GDP

Gross Domestic Product - our nation’s output

GPR

General Purpose Revenues

HCFA

Health Care Financing Administration in HHS

HFS 132

DHFS Administrative Rules for Nursing Homes

HHA

Home Health Agency

HHS

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

HIPPA

Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996

HIV

Human Immunodeficiency Virus

HMO

Health Maintenance Organization

Hospice

A residential or nonresidential program that provides care to person who are dying, with the care provided not being directed at a cure of the individual but rather at lessening pain and other physical symptoms, with the provision of various kinds of support to the individual and the individual’s family.

HR

Human Resources

HSS 131

DHFS Administrative Rules for Hospices

HUD

Housing and Urban Development

ICD-9-CM

International Classification of Diseases

ICF

Intermediate Care Facility - a federal Title XIX term for MA reimbursement purposes to a lower level of nursing care than that provided in a skilled nursing facility (SNF)

ICF-MR

An ICF serving only or mainly mentally retarded residents, providing active treatment for residents, and certified under 42 CFR 435 and 442.

ICU

Intensive Care Unit

IMD

Institutions for Mental Disease

IMD

Institution for Mental Disease

Independent Living Center

An agency that provides or arranges for services to help severely disabled individuals live as independently as possible.

IS

Information Systems

IT

Information Technology

JCAHO

Joint Commission of Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations

LAB

Legislative Audit Bureau

Life Safety Code

National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) Standard 101 for the safety of life in buildings.

Living Will

See Declaration to Physicians

LPN

Licensed Practical Nurse

LTC

Long-Term Care

MA

Medical Assistance

MA Waiver

An exemption from a requirement of federal Medical Assistance (Medicaid) law

MCO

Managed Care Organization

MDS

Minimum Data Set

Medicaid

Title XIX of the federal Social Security Act and 42 CFR 430 to 456; pays for medical care for low-income persons

Medicare

Title XVIII of the federal Social Security Act and 42 CFR 405 to 424; insurance like payments for medical care of person aged 65 and over.

MH

Mental Health

MIS

Management Information Specialist

MOU

Memorandum of Understanding

MR

Mental Retardation

MRI

Magnetic Resonance Imaging

NCQA

National Committee for Quality Assurance

NFPA

National Fire Protection Association

NGA

National Governor’s Association

NIC

National Investment Council

Nurse Aide Registry

See Registry of Aides

Nursing Home

A place which provides 24 hour services including board and room to 3 or more unrelated residents who because of their mental or physical condition require nursing care.

OAA

Older Americans Act

OBRA

Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act

OIG

Office of Inspector General

OMB

Federal Office of management and Budget

OSHA

Occupational Safety and Health Administration

OT

Occupational Therapy

PACE

Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly

PASARR

Pre-admission Screening and Annual Resident Review

PL

Public Law

Power of Attorney for Health Care

Under ch. 155, Wis. Stats., a competent person at least 18 year of age may complete a form available from DHFS to designate someone to make health care decisions for the person in the event that the person becomes unable to make those decisions. The designated person is that person’s agent to exercise the power of attorney.

PPD

Hours Per Patient Day

PPS

Prospective Payment System

PRO(b)

Peer Review Organization

Protective Services

Assistance to protect vulnerable persons from being abused, exploited, or treated in a degrading manner, and to help those who are adults live as independently as possible.

PT

Physical Therapy

RAP

Resident Assessment Profile

RCAC

Residential Care Apartment Complex - New name for assisted living facility

RFP

Request for Proposal

RN

Registered Nurse

ROM

Range of Motion

RSVP

Retired Senior Volunteer Program

RT

Respiratory Therapy

SNF

Skilled Nursing Facility

SSA

Social Security Administration in HHS

SSD

County Social Services Department

SSDI

Social Security Disability Insurance

SSI

Supplemental Security Income

ST

Speech Therapy

T-18

Title XVIII of the Social Security Act of 1935 as amended; Medicare

T-19

Title XIX of the Social Security Act of 1935 as amended; Medicaid

TEFRA

Tax Equity and Fiscal Responsibility Act

TR

Therapeutic Recreation

UGS

United Government Services

VA

Veteran’s Administration

WAHSA

Wisconsin Association of Homes and Services for the Aging

WCA

Wisconsin Counties Association

WHCA

Wisconsin Health Care Association