The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), is the federal agency that administers the nation’s Medicare Program. The agency, formerly known as the Health Care Financing Administration (HCFA), also works with state governments to administer programs that include Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP).
In addition, CMS also develops new programs that resulted from passage and implementation of the Affordable Care Act.
The agency is part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).