HCFA

HCFA or the Health Care Financing Administration was the previous name of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), an agency within the United States Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) that administers the nation’s major healthcare programs.

History

The HCFA was created in 1977 to combine under one administration the oversight of the Medicare program, the Federal portion of the Medicaid program, and the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP). In 2001, HCFA was renamed to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS).

Responsibilities

CMS has the responsibility for administering the Medicare program, the federal portion of the Medicaid program, and the State Children’s Health Insurance Program. Other responsibilities include improving and modernizing these programs and ensuring that the beneficiaries receive high quality and value for their healthcare.

See Also

• Medicare (United States)
• Medicaid
• State Children's Health Insurance Program
• United States Department of Health and Human Services