Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is an agency within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services responsible for administering critical healthcare services including Medicare, Medicaid, and SCHIP. CMS programs affect millions of Americans on a daily basis. CMS’ work helps shape whether—and how well— we as a nation meet America’s healthcare needs.  As the largest payer of healthcare services, CMS’ mission is to ensure effective, up-to-date healthcare coverage and to promote quality care for beneficiaries.

Since the beginnings of Medicare, CMS has worked as an advocate for high-quality, high-value healthcare.  The National Priorities reflect much of the work that CMS has already begun in this area.

  • Local-level quality advocates in the QIO and ESRD Network Organization Programs.  Quality Improvement Organizations (QIOs) and ESRD Network Organizations are working at the local level in each state to effectuate healthcare reform.  By partnering with providers in their areas, QIOs are working to make care safer across the healthcare system through the National Patient Safety Initiative; improve dialysis care for patients with kidney failure; prevent chronic conditions such as flu, pneumonia, and certain cancers; and reduce disparities in care for patients from traditionally underserved populations.
  • Empowering citizens to be informed healthcare consumers. CMS supports the transformation of the healthcare system to one in which patients and doctors can make informed decisions together about the most effective medical care, based on timely access to the latest evidence, and in a way that delivers the highest-value care. CMS will get beneficiaries the best quality care for the best price by developing ways to let them know their medical options before they need treatment, the quality and expertise of doctors and hospitals in their area, and how much their medical care will cost them. 
  • Transforming the traditional Medicare and Medicaid Programs.  To achieve transformation, CMS is working to make its programs more transparent through quality measurement and cost/price  reporting in Medicare fee-for-service systems; emphasize person-centered care using prevention, patient safety initiatives, care coordination and disease management for better support of quality care; implement value-based purchasing programs to promote better quality and more efficient care; enhance long-term solvency of the Medicare Trust Fund through evidence-based benefit, coverage, and payment policies; encourage Medicaid reform and alignment with the Medicare value agenda; help redesign the New Orleans Health System; establish an integrated data repository and determine policy to make Medicare and Medicaid quality data available to healthcare stakeholders; promote adoption and use of inter-operable health information technology systems; reduce disparities in healthcare delivery; and address the rapid growth of new technology, genomics, and personalized medicine to achieve the best value and health outcomes for patients.

“CMS’ vision is to achieve a transformed and modernized healthcare system.  Our quality programs have helped us towards making that vision a reality, but we know that we cannot do it alone,” said Barry Straube, CMS Chief Medical Officer and Director of the Agency’s Office of Clinical Standards & Quality. “The National Priorities Partnership is an opportunity for key stakeholders in healthcare to join forces and help us all get closer to that vision.”

CMS looks forward to continuing its commitment to high-quality, high-value healthcare as a partner in the National Priorities Partnership.   For more information on the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, please visit http://www.cms.hhs.gov/.

CMS oversaw the largest expansion of Medicare in 40 years to more than 38 million new beneficiaries who now receive prescription drug coverage.
Who we are

CMS serves nearly 90 million beneficiaries, and works within an approximately $650 billion budget.  CMS’ work assures that these dollars are used appropriately and effectively.