Who administers Medicare in the United States?

Medicare is administered by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), which is a federal agency under the Department of Health and Human Services. CMS is responsible for the oversight and management of the Medicare program, ensuring that it operates according to federal laws and regulations. This includes setting policies, overseeing claims, and ensuring quality standards in care provided to Medicare beneficiaries.

CMS plays a critical role in the administration of Medicare, handling everything from enrollment to the processing of claims for medical services and prescriptions under various parts of Medicare. While private insurers do participate in Medicare through Medicare Advantage plans, the ultimate authority and administration of Medicare rests with CMS, emphasizing its role as the federal body designed to manage these programs at the national level.

Individual states do not administer Medicare; they have their own programs for Medicaid, which can sometimes overlap with Medicare but are separate entities. Additionally, while the Department of Health and Human Services oversees CMS, it is CMS that directly administers Medicare, making it the correct choice for this question.