
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is a federal agency within the United States Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) that administers the Medicare program. CMS has over 6,000 employees, with around 4,000 based at its headquarters in Woodlawn, Baltimore, Maryland. The remaining employees are located in the Hubert H. Humphrey Building in Washington, D.C., and in 10 regional offices and various field offices across the United States.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name | Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) |
| Type of Agency | Federal agency |
| Parent Department | Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) |
| Headquarters | Woodlawn, Maryland |
| No. of Employees | Over 6,000 |
| No. of Employees at Headquarters | Approximately 4,000 |
| Other Locations | Washington, D.C., 10 regional offices, and various field offices throughout the U.S. |
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What You'll Learn
- The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is a federal agency within the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)
- CMS employs over 6,000 people, with around 4,000 based at its headquarters
- CMS headquarters are in Woodlawn, Baltimore, Maryland
- The remaining CMS employees are in Washington, DC, 10 regional offices, and field offices
- CMS is responsible for Medicare and Medicaid, the largest programs in the federal government

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is a federal agency within the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)
CMS has a significant presence across the United States, with its headquarters located in Woodlawn, Maryland. Approximately 4,000 of their over 6,000 employees are based at the headquarters. CMS also has a presence in Washington, D.C., at the Hubert H. Humphrey Building, as well as in 10 regional offices and various field offices located throughout the country. The regional and field offices play a crucial role in working closely with local communities, beneficiaries, healthcare providers, and state governments to address inquiries and provide education.
The history of Medicare and CMS can be traced back to the 1950s and 1960s. In 1956, the Dependents' Medical Care Act was passed, providing medical care for families of military service members. In 1961, President Dwight D. Eisenhower held the first White House Conference on Aging, proposing the creation of a healthcare program for social security beneficiaries. Subsequently, in 1965, President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the Social Security Amendments, establishing both Medicare and Medicaid. At that time, the program provided health insurance to approximately 19 million Americans.
In 1965, both Medicare and Medicaid were organised under the Department of Health, Education, and Welfare (HEW). In 1977, the Health Care Financing Administration (HCFA) was established under HEW to coordinate Medicare and Medicaid. It wasn't until 1980 that HEW was reorganised as the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), bringing Medicare and Medicaid under its jurisdiction. In 2001, HCFA was renamed the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, reflecting its expanded role and responsibilities.
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CMS employs over 6,000 people, with around 4,000 based at its headquarters
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is a federal agency within the United States Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). CMS is responsible for administering the Medicare program and working with state governments to manage Medicaid and other health insurance programs. The CMS has a significant presence, with over 6,000 employees, approximately 4,000 of whom are based at its headquarters in Woodlawn, Maryland, in the Baltimore area. This central hub of CMS operations plays a critical role in overseeing and coordinating the organization's activities across the country.
The remaining CMS employees are dispersed across various locations, including the Hubert H. Humphrey Building in Washington, D.C., ten regional offices, and numerous field offices throughout the United States. This distributed workforce ensures that CMS can effectively engage with local communities and stakeholders while also providing a central point of contact and leadership at their headquarters. The regional offices, in particular, play a vital role in representing the agency at the state and local levels, working closely with beneficiaries, healthcare providers, and community groups to address inquiries and provide education.
The CMS headquarters in Woodlawn, Maryland, serves as the nerve center of the organization. It is from here that strategic decisions are made, policies are formulated, and the overall direction of the Medicare and Medicaid programs is determined. This centralization of administrative functions allows for efficient management and coordination of the various aspects of these complex healthcare programs. The headquarters also serves as a hub for communication and collaboration between the different regional and field offices, ensuring a unified approach to delivering healthcare services across the nation.
The CMS headquarters is more than just a bureaucratic office; it is a hub of expertise and knowledge in healthcare policy and administration. The employees based at the headquarters include a diverse range of professionals, from policy experts and analysts to program managers and support staff. They work tirelessly to ensure the smooth operation of the Medicare and Medicaid programs, developing policies, processing claims, and providing support to the regional and field offices. The concentration of talent and resources at the headquarters enables CMS to effectively manage the challenges and complexities inherent in delivering healthcare services on a national scale.
The physical infrastructure of the CMS headquarters is designed to accommodate the needs of a large federal agency. It comprises multiple buildings or sections, including the main headquarters building in Woodlawn and an office in Baltimore, as mentioned in the contact information for visitors. This physical setup allows for the efficient housing of staff, resources, and support services required to run an organization of this size. The headquarters also serves as a symbol of CMS's commitment to providing accessible and high-quality healthcare to all Americans, as embodied in the programs they administer.
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CMS headquarters are in Woodlawn, Baltimore, Maryland
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is a federal agency within the United States Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). CMS is responsible for administering the Medicare program and working with state governments to manage Medicaid and the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP). The CMS headquarters are in Woodlawn, Baltimore, Maryland, with approximately 4,000 employees based there. Woodlawn is a neighbourhood in the western part of Baltimore, Maryland. It is a bustling area with a mix of residential and commercial developments.
CMS has a total of over 6,000 employees, with the remaining staff located in various other offices. These include the Hubert H. Humphrey Building in Washington, D.C., ten regional offices, and numerous field offices across the United States. The regional offices play a crucial role in the agency's state and local presence. Regional field staff collaborate closely with beneficiaries, healthcare providers, state governments, community groups, and other stakeholders to provide education and address any queries related to CMS programmes.
The CMS headquarters in Woodlawn, Baltimore, serves as the central hub for the agency's operations and decision-making. It is from here that CMS carries out its mission of providing effective and up-to-date healthcare coverage and promoting quality care for its beneficiaries. The headquarters is also responsible for the oversight and administration of the Medicare Program, ensuring that it runs smoothly and efficiently for its enrollees.
Baltimore, where the CMS headquarters is located, is the largest city in Maryland and is known for its vibrant culture and history. The city has a diverse economy, with healthcare being a significant sector. Baltimore is easily accessible, with a well-developed transportation network, making it convenient for visitors and stakeholders alike. The city's cultural attractions, including museums, theatres, and historical sites, add to its appeal as a location for the CMS headquarters.
CMS provides essential services to millions of Americans, and its headquarters in Woodlawn, Baltimore, serves as the nerve centre of its operations. The location of the headquarters allows CMS to maintain close coordination with other government agencies and stakeholders, ensuring that it fulfils its mandate of providing quality healthcare coverage to those it serves. Visitors to the CMS headquarters in Woodlawn, Baltimore, can find information on the CMS website, including directions, main contact numbers, security requirements, and other relevant details.
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The remaining CMS employees are in Washington, DC, 10 regional offices, and field offices
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is a federal agency within the United States Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). CMS has more than 6,000 employees, with about 4,000 based at its headquarters in Woodlawn, Maryland.
The remaining CMS staff are located in Washington, D.C., at the Hubert H. Humphrey Building, as well as in 10 regional offices and field offices across the United States. These offices are the agency's state and local presence, with regional field staff working closely with beneficiaries, healthcare providers, state governments, community groups, and other stakeholders. They provide education and address questions related to Medicare and Medicaid programs.
The regional offices of CMS play a crucial role in ensuring that the agency's programs and services are accessible and responsive to the needs of local communities. They serve as a direct link between the central CMS administration and the people they serve, allowing for more efficient communication and coordination.
The field offices, on the other hand, are the boots on the ground for CMS, with staff working directly in the communities they serve. They are responsible for implementing the programs and policies developed by the central administration, adapting them to meet the unique needs of their specific regions. This might include providing information and assistance to beneficiaries, working with local healthcare providers to ensure compliance with CMS standards, and collaborating with community organizations to improve health outcomes for Medicare and Medicaid recipients.
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CMS is responsible for Medicare and Medicaid, the largest programs in the federal government
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is a federal agency within the United States Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). CMS is responsible for administering the Medicare program and working in partnership with state governments to administer Medicaid, the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP), and health insurance portability standards. The agency employs over 6,000 people, with approximately 4,000 based at its headquarters in Woodlawn, Maryland. The remaining employees are located in the Hubert H. Humphrey Building in Washington, D.C., as well as in 10 regional offices and various field offices across the United States.
CMS has a significant role in ensuring access to healthcare for millions of Americans through its management of Medicare and Medicaid. Medicare, originally established in 1965, was designed to provide health insurance to social security beneficiaries, including families of military personnel. Over time, the program has expanded to cover a broader segment of the population. Medicaid, also established in 1965, is a joint federal-state program that provides health coverage for low-income individuals and families. Together, these two programs constitute the largest programs in the federal government, providing health insurance to more than 100 million people.
As the administrator of Medicare, CMS is responsible for overseeing the program's operations, setting standards, and ensuring the availability of up-to-date healthcare coverage for its beneficiaries. This includes handling beneficiary enrollment and processing premium payments, and maintaining quality standards in long-term care facilities through its survey and certification processes. CMS also plays a crucial role in promoting transparency in healthcare, as evidenced by its release of raw claims data in 2014, which provided insights into billing practices.
In partnership with state governments, CMS plays a significant role in administering Medicaid. While the specific administration varies by state, CMS provides oversight and ensures that quality care is delivered to beneficiaries. Additionally, CMS is responsible for other programs, such as the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP), which aims to provide health coverage for children in families with incomes too high to qualify for Medicaid but who cannot afford private insurance. CMS also enforces administrative simplification standards from the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) and clinical laboratory quality standards under the Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments.
The work of CMS extends beyond Medicare and Medicaid, as it also oversees HealthCare.gov, the federal government's health insurance exchange website established under the Affordable Care Act. This website serves as a marketplace for individuals and small businesses to purchase health insurance plans, with CMS ensuring its functionality and accessibility. Furthermore, CMS is committed to promoting effective healthcare delivery and quality improvement. This includes initiatives such as the proposed Transitional Coverage for Emerging Technologies (TCET) pathway, which aims to streamline coverage for breakthrough medical devices while balancing the need for proper review and evaluation.
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Frequently asked questions
The headquarters of CMS is located in Woodlawn, Maryland.
CMS employs over 6,000 people, with about 4,000 of them based at the Woodlawn headquarters.
The remaining CMS employees are located in the Hubert H. Humphrey Building in Washington, D.C., 10 regional offices, and various field offices across the United States.
The mailing address for the CMS Regional Offices is: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, Office of Program Operations and Local Engagement, 7500 Security Boulevard, Mail Stop DO-01-40 Baltimore, Maryland 21244-1850.
CMS is a federal agency within the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) that administers the Medicare program and works with state governments to administer Medicaid, the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP), and health insurance portability standards.



















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