Which agency administers Medicare and Medicaid programs in the United States?

• A. Environmental Protection Agency
• B. Department of Education
• C. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
• D. National Institutes of Health

Answer: (C)

The agency that administers Medicare and Medicaid programs is the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. Medicare is a federal program that provides health coverage primarily for people 65 and older and certain younger people with disabilities, while Medicaid is a joint federal-state program that offers health coverage to low‑income individuals and families. CMS oversees the overarching rules, eligibility criteria, coverage decisions, billing processes, and program integrity for Medicare, and it coordinates with states on Medicaid to implement the program according to federal guidelines. The other agencies handle different missions: the Environmental Protection Agency focuses on environmental protection, the Department of Education handles education policy, and the National Institutes of Health conducts medical research.