Which federal agency oversees Medicare and Medicaid programs in the United States?

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

Answer: (A)

Medicare and Medicaid are overseen by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, a federal agency within the Department of Health and Human Services. CMS administers Medicare nationwide, handling beneficiary enrollment, eligibility rules, provider enrollment, claims processing, and payment policy. Medicaid is a joint federal-state program; federal guidelines set the framework, while states administer the program with CMS oversight to ensure consistent standards across the country. The World Health Organization operates internationally and does not run U.S. insurance programs. The National Institutes of Health focuses on biomedical research, not program administration. The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality concentrates on research to improve health care quality and safety, not on administering Medicare or Medicaid.