Who is in charge of CMS for Medicare?

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Dr. Mehmet Oz runs the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) as its Administrator.

Overview of CMS Leadership

  • Administrator: Dr. Mehmet Oz leads the agency under the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).
  • Parent Agency: HHS is led by Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
  • Scope: CMS manages health coverage for over 160 million Americans through Medicare, Medicaid, the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP), and the Health Insurance Marketplace.
  • Center for Medicare: John Brooks serves as the Deputy Administrator and Director of the Center for Medicare.

Is CMS Medicare the same as Medicare?

No, CMS (Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services) is not the same thing as Medicare, but they are closely related.

The Difference Between CMS and Medicare

  • CMS is the federal government agency (part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services) that manages and oversees several public healthcare programs, including Medicare, Medicaid, the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), and the Health Insurance Marketplace. You can learn more about the agency on the official Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services website.
  • Medicare is the specific federal health insurance program itself, which provides coverage for people age 65 and older, as well as younger people with certain disabilities.

How They Work Together

  • Administration: CMS administers, regulates, and sets the rules for Medicare.
  • Resources: While CMS handles the federal oversight and operational guidelines, individual benefit details and enrollment tools for patients are typically found on the official Medicare site.

Who is responsible for CMS?

Dr. Mehmet Oz runs the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) as its 17th Administrator.

Agency Details

  • Parent Department: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) under Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
  • Administration: President Donald Trump
  • Role: Oversees Medicare, Medicaid, the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP), and the Health Insurance Marketplace.

How to contact Dr. Oz at CMS?

To reach CMS Administrator Dr. Mehmet Oz, you can submit official inquiries through the CMS Speech & Meeting Requests page or contact the main CMS Headquarters.

Official Contact Channels

  • Mailing Address & General Phone:
    Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS)
    7500 Security Boulevard
    Baltimore, MD 21244
    • Toll-Free: 877-267-2323
    • Local: 410-786-3000
  • Meeting & Speaking Requests: Use the official CMS Speech & Meeting Requests Portal to invite the Administrator to an event or request an official meeting.
  • Social Media: Official updates and public announcements are managed via his institutional presence on X at @DrOzCMS.

(Note: For specific beneficiary inquiries, coverage issues, or personal Medicare/Medicaid support, call 1-800-MEDICARE instead of the Administrator's administrative office.)

Who are the leaders at CMS?

According to the CMS Leadership directory, the top leadership at the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is headed by Administrator Dr. Mehmet Oz.

Office of the Administrator

  • Administrator: Dr. Mehmet Oz
  • Chief of Staff: Rebekah Armstrong
  • Deputy Administrator & Chief Operating Officer: Kimberly Brandt
  • Deputy Administrator & Chief Policy and Regulatory Officer / Director of Center for Medicare: John Brooks
  • Deputy Administrator & Chief Clinical AI Officer: Stephanie Carlton
  • Deputy Chief Operating Officer: John Czajkowski

Medicare 101

9 related questions found

Who runs CMS Medicare?

Dr. Mehmet Oz serves as the Administrator of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS).

CMS operates as a federal agency within the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). Key leadership details include:

  • Administrator: Dr. Mehmet Oz manages the agency's programs and budget.
  • HHS Secretary: Robert F. Kennedy Jr. oversees the department.
  • Director of the Center for Medicare: John Brooks leads Medicare-specific operations.
  • Scope: The agency oversees Medicare, Medicaid, CHIP, and Healthcare.gov, providing health coverage to over 160 million Americans.

Is CMS legit for Medicare?

Yes, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is a legitimate federal government agency within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) that administers Medicare.

What CMS Does

  • Administers Programs: CMS oversees federal healthcare programs including Medicare, Medicaid, the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), and HealthCare.gov.
  • Sets Regulations: The agency establishes coding, billing, and quality standards for healthcare providers.
  • Fights Fraud: CMS uses analytics and monitoring to prevent fraudulent billing and protect the Medicare trust funds.

Watch Out for Impostor Scams

Because CMS is a well-known official name, scammers frequently impersonate CMS to trick beneficiaries and medical providers.

  • Fake Audits/Faxes: Scammers may send fraudulent faxes or emails claiming to be CMS requesting medical records or debt payments for a Medicare audit. CMS generally does not initiate unrequested medical audits via fax or email.
  • Door-to-Door Sales: Criminals may pose as CMS or Medicare agents offering free items or services to steal your personal or Medicare information. Legitimate representatives do not show up unannounced at your door.
  • Official Website: The only official website for the agency is cms.gov (ending in .gov, not .com).

Who oversees the CMS?

Dr. Mehmet Oz oversees the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) as its Administrator.

Overview of CMS Leadership

  • Administrator: Dr. Mehmet Oz serves as the 17th Administrator of CMS.
  • Department: CMS is part of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), which is overseen by HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
  • Administration: The agency operates under the administration of President Donald Trump.
  • Responsibilities: The Administrator manages healthcare programs for over 160 million Americans, including Medicare, Medicaid, the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP), and the Health Insurance Marketplace.

Why did I get a bill from CMS Medicare?

You received a bill from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) because you owe a direct payment for your monthly Medicare Premium Bill (CMS-500) or an income-related surcharge Why Did I Receive a Notice Bill for My Medicare Premiums?.

Most people do not get a physical bill because their premiums are automatically taken out of their Social Security benefits.

Common Reasons for a CMS Bill

  • You do not collect Social Security yet: If you are enrolled in Medicare Part A or Part B but are not yet receiving Social Security or Railroad Retirement Board benefits, you must pay your premiums directly.
  • The bill covers multiple months: Medicare Part B is often billed Why Is My First Medicare Bill So High? quarterly (every 3 months) in advance. Your first bill is often higher because it includes past months owed from when your coverage first started plus the upcoming quarter.
  • You owe an IRMAA surcharge: If your modified adjusted gross income is above a certain limit, you must pay an extra charge called IRMAA (Income-Related Monthly Adjustment Amount) for Part B or Part D, even if your main premium is deducted elsewhere.
  • Your Social Security benefit is too low: If your monthly Social Security benefit does not cover the full cost of your combined premiums, you will get a bill for the difference.

What are the CMS Medicare guidelines for 2026?

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) finalized major updates for Calendar Year (CY) 2026 focusing on payment adjustments, the Medicare Advantage program, and streamlined reporting.

Medicare Advantage and Part D Updates

  • Payment Increases: Government payments to Medicare Advantage (MA) plans increase by an average of 5.06% (about $25 billion).
  • Benefit Alignment: Part D rules align with the redesigned benefit structure and integrate provisions from the Inflation Reduction Act to manage prescription drug cost-sharing.
  • Prescription Payment Plan: Codifies operations for the Medicare Prescription Payment Plan, featuring an automatic election renewal unless the enrollee opts out.

Physician Fee Schedule (PFS) Changes

  • Conversion and Rates: Implements a 2.7% increase to the Medicare Economic Index (MEI) and updates valuation rules under the CY 2026 Physician Fee Schedule Final Rule.
  • Telehealth and Supervision: Expands covered telehealth services, removes specific frequency limits, and adopts virtual direct supervision rules.
  • Coding Adjustments: Expands the G2211 evaluation and management add-on code to home and residence visits, and introduces new behavioral health and Advanced Primary Care Management (APCM) codes.

Administrative and Regulatory Reductions

  • Quality Measures: Reduces overall administrative reporting burden by lowering the number of quality measures by 5% year-over-year.
  • Inpatient-Only List: Continues the three-year phase-out of the inpatient-only list by removing nearly 300 predominantly musculoskeletal procedures.