The Center for Medicaid and CHIP Services (CMCS) is one of six Centers within the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) , an agency of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) .
CMCS serves as the focal point for all the national program policies and operations for three important, state-based health coverage programs:
- Medicaid provides health coverage to low-income people and is one of the largest payers for health care in the United States.
- The Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) provides federal matching funds to states to provide health coverage to children in families with incomes too high to qualify for Medicaid, but who can't afford private coverage.
- The Basic Health Program (BHP) allows states an option to provide affordable coverage and better continuity of care for people whose income fluctuates above and below Medicaid and CHIP eligibility levels.
Together, these three programs provide an important foundation for maintaining the health of our nation.