In the US, an agency was established to govern the various medical care programs that were in existence by the president Lyndon B. Johnson in 1965. This agency was called CMS-centres for Medicare and Medicaid Services. CMS oversees the administration of the medical care programs. It is a US federal agency that helps provide health insurance through Medicare, Medicaid etc.

CMS strives to provide better health care, wellness programs and accessibility. The programs that are supported by CMS are

• Medicare – Medicare has widened its reach to include low-income groups, the aged, pregnant women, people with disabilities and ESRD. The Medicare program includes a) Hospital Insurance. b) Medical Insurance and c) Prescription drug coverage.
• Medicaid – A program that was established to assist with medical costs.
• Children’s health insurance program (CHIP) – This provides health care insurance to children in the low-income group. The aim is to improve children’s health all over the US.
• Private Insurance-CMS also takes care of regulations in private insurance markets.
• Prevention of insurance frauds – CMS analysis data that is gathered to prevent insurance frauds. It sets Medicare premiums and ensures smooth functioning and transparency in the health insurance sector.