Which federal agency within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services is responsible for administering Medicare and Medicaid?

• A. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
• B. National Institutes of Health
• C. Food and Drug Administration
• D. Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality

Answer: (A)

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services administers Medicare and Medicaid. Within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, CMS oversees Medicare—covering the federal health insurance program for seniors and certain disabled individuals—and Medicaid, the joint federal-state program that provides health coverage for low-income people. CMS sets program policies, determines eligibility in collaboration with states, handles enrollments and claims processing, and distributes federal funds to states to run their Medicaid programs. Other agencies like the NIH, FDA, and AHRQ focus on research, drug and device regulation, and healthcare quality research, not on administering these programs.