What is the primary function of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services?

The primary function of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) is to enforce healthcare compliance and regulations. CMS oversees the administration of Medicare, Medicaid, and other healthcare programs within the United States, ensuring that healthcare providers comply with federal laws and regulations. This includes setting guidelines for reimbursement, monitoring program integrity, and ensuring quality of care. The focus on compliance ensures that the healthcare system operates within the established legal framework and that patients receive the benefits to which they are entitled.

The other options, while important in the broader context of healthcare and public health, do not accurately encompass the core mission of CMS. Conducting medical research and trials falls primarily to entities such as the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and pharmaceutical companies. Developing new medications is typically the responsibility of the pharmaceutical industry and not a function of CMS. Providing direct patient care is managed by healthcare providers rather than CMS, which serves more as an oversight and regulatory body.