Centers For Medicare And Medicaid Services

Updated: 07 May 2026

What Does Centers For Medicare And Medicaid Services Mean?

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) is a U.S. government agency responsible for managing health programs such as Medicare and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP). It oversees insurance regulators, sets standards for health laboratories, and maintains critical health information through its electronic health record system.

Previously, CMS was known as the Health Care Financing Administration.

Insuranceopedia Explains Centers For Medicare And Medicaid Services

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) manages key health programs in the U.S., including Medicare, which provides health insurance for the elderly. Since Medicare is the primary health coverage for most Americans over 65, many people enrolling in it also start looking at life insurance options for seniors around the same time.

CMS works with state regulators to ensure that the health insurance industry upholds ethical standards in its operations. It also verifies that clinical laboratories use federally approved technology. Additionally, CMS maintains an electronic health record system designed to improve healthcare delivery while reducing associated costs. Because Medicare does not pay for funeral or burial costs, some retirees buy a small final expense life insurance policy to cover those bills.

Synonyms


Health Care Financing Administration