Vocabulary — Health & Body
Words are tools. This page holds every key word for this part of the school, drawn from the lessons themselves: how to spell each word, what it means in plain language, and one sentence to remember it by.
See every vocabulary page in this school
105 CMR 410
Spells: C-M-R
What it means: the sanitary code's housing chapter, setting minimum standards of fitness for human habitation.
A sentence to remember it by: 111; mass.gov (https://www.mass.gov) for the 105 CMR code chapters and the Department of Public Health.
Appeal
Spells: A-p-p-e-a-l
What it means: a formal request that an insurer or program review and change a decision about payment or coverage.
A sentence to remember it by: You have the right to question and appeal.
Board of health
Spells: B-o-a-r-d-o-f-h-e-a-l-t-h
What it means: the city or town board in Massachusetts charged with protecting public health in its community, principally under Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 111.
A sentence to remember it by: Whose Problem Is It — Board, Attorney General, or Court?
Claim
Spells: C-l-a-i-m
What it means: a request for payment submitted to an insurer or program for care or supplies.
A sentence to remember it by: Myth: If the program paid the claim, it cannot be fraud.
Co
Spells: C-o
What it means: response clinician — a mental health professional who responds with or supports officers on crisis calls, where a department has such a program.
A sentence to remember it by: Close with connection, not just departure.
Crisis
Spells: C-r-i-s-i-s
What it means: intervention team (CIT) — officers and partners with specialized crisis training, where a department has such a team.
A sentence to remember it by: A crisis is an episode, not an identity.
Decompensation
Spells: D-e-c-o-m-p-e-n-s-a-t-i-o-n
What it means: a worsening of a person's condition in which coping and daily functioning break down.
A sentence to remember it by: Decompensation — a worsening of a person's condition in which coping and daily functioning break down.
Delusion
Spells: D-e-l-u-s-i-o-n
What it means: a fixed false belief held despite clear evidence, such as being certain one is being poisoned without cause.
A sentence to remember it by: Do not argue with a delusion or mock what a person perceives.
Department of Public Health (DPH)
Spells: Department of Public Health (DPH)
What it means: the state department above local boards; author of the State Sanitary Code and backstop when a board fails to enforce it.
A sentence to remember it by: Laws) — the Department of Public Health adopts the State Sanitary Code.
Explanation of benefits (EOB)
Spells: Explanation of benefits (EOB)
What it means: the statement from your insurer or program listing care claimed in your name, what was billed and paid, and what you may owe; it is not a bill.
A sentence to remember it by: The explanation of benefits is the patient's window into this.
Fraud unit
Spells: F-r-a-u-d-u-n-i-t
What it means: the team at an insurer or agency that investigates suspected fraud; also called a special investigations unit.
A sentence to remember it by: Myth: If the program paid the claim, it cannot be fraud.
Hallucination
Spells: H-a-l-l-u-c-i-n-a-t-i-o-n
What it means: a perception, such as a voice, that feels real to the person experiencing it but is not heard or seen by others.
A sentence to remember it by: Hallucination — a perception, such as a voice, that feels real to the person experiencing it but is not heard or seen by others.
Handoff
Spells: H-a-n-d-o-f-f
What it means: the factual transfer of risk information — exact words, plans, means, actions taken — to medical or clinical staff.
A sentence to remember it by: Communicate risk clearly in handoff and report.
Health agent / inspector
Spells: Health agent / inspector
What it means: the board's staff member who performs inspections and acts for the board within its authority.
A sentence to remember it by: Myth: A board may make any health rule it likes.
Inspection
Spells: I-n-s-p-e-c-t-i-o-n
What it means: an examination of premises against the code, producing written findings of fact.
A sentence to remember it by: Myth: An inspection automatically fixes the problem.
Involuntary evaluation
Spells: Involuntary evaluation
What it means: a legal process, governed by law and policy, by which a person who may be a danger to themselves or others can be taken for professional assessment; this lesson does not teach its legal criteria.
Where you meet it: in the lesson “Advocacy” in this school.
Itemized bill
Spells: I-t-e-m-i-z-e-d-b-i-l-l
What it means: a bill listing each service and charge separately, rather than one total.
A sentence to remember it by: Itemized bill — a bill listing each service and charge separately, rather than one total.
Means
Spells: M-e-a-n-s
What it means: the method or items a person could use to harm themselves, such as firearms or stockpiled medication.
A sentence to remember it by: Fact: Risk turns on the person's words, plans, means, history as reported, and circumstances — not on politeness.
Medical identity theft
Spells: Medical identity theft
What it means: using another person's health insurance or program number to obtain care, prescriptions, or payments.
A sentence to remember it by: Myth: Medical identity theft only costs money.
Mental health crisis
Spells: Mental health crisis
What it means: a state in which thoughts, emotions, or perceptions overwhelm a person's ability to stay safe or care for themselves.
A sentence to remember it by: After the call — families, repeat calls, and your own steadiness Mental health calls repeat.
Nuisance
Spells: N-u-i-s-a-n-c-e
What it means: a condition that endangers public health, such as sewage failure or accumulated refuse, that a board may order corrected.
A sentence to remember it by: Nuisance — a condition that endangers public health, such as sewage failure or accumulated refuse, that a board may order corrected.
Office of Inspector General (OIG)
Spells: Office of Inspector General (OIG)
What it means: an oversight office within a federal agency; the HHS OIG investigates fraud in Medicare, Medicaid, and other HHS programs.
A sentence to remember it by: Call the provider's billing office first if it may be an error.
Order to correct
Spells: O-r-d-e-r-t-o-c-o-r-r-e-c-t
What it means: a board's written direction to fix cited violations within a stated time.
A sentence to remember it by: Its tools are findings, orders, permits, and code fines.
Phantom billing
Spells: P-h-a-n-t-o-m-b-i-l-l-i-n-g
What it means: billing for services, tests, or equipment that were never provided at all.
A sentence to remember it by: Phantom billing — billing for services, tests, or equipment that were never provided at all.
Police power (health)
Spells: Police power (health)
What it means: the state's authority to enact reasonable regulations protecting public health and safety, the foundation Jacobson describes.
A sentence to remember it by: Police power (health) — the state's authority to enact reasonable regulations protecting public health and safety, the foundation Jacobson describes.
Premium
Spells: P-r-e-m-i-u-m
What it means: the regular payment made to keep health coverage in effect.
A sentence to remember it by: Premium — the regular payment made to keep health coverage in effect.
Psychosis
Spells: P-s-y-c-h-o-s-i-s
What it means: a condition in which a person may hear or see things others do not, or hold fixed false beliefs, making the world feel threatening or unreal.
A sentence to remember it by: A cornered person in psychosis may strike out from terror.
Septic system
Spells: S-e-p-t-i-c-s-y-s-t-e-m
What it means: an on-site subsurface system for disposing of sanitary sewage, permitted and inspected under state code and local board rules.
A sentence to remember it by: Septic system — an on-site subsurface system for disposing of sanitary sewage, permitted and inspected under state code and local board rules.
State Sanitary Code
Spells: State Sanitary Code
What it means: the Department of Public Health's statewide health regulations, codified at 105 CMR, setting the minimum standards local boards enforce.
A sentence to remember it by: Laws and procedures vary by state and by case.
Upcoding
Spells: U-p-c-o-d-i-n-g
What it means: billing for a more expensive service than the one actually provided.
A sentence to remember it by: Upcoding — billing for a more expensive service than the one actually provided.