Which of the following is a duty of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services?

• A. Developing coverage policies
• B. Regulating pharmaceutical advertising
• C. Providing long-term care in private facilities
• D. Conducting clinical trials

Answer: (A)

Developing coverage policies is a central duty of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services because CMS administers Medicare and Medicaid and decides what services and items will be paid for under those programs. This includes creating national and local coverage determinations that specify which medical services are reimbursable, under what circumstances, and what documentation or medical criteria are required. Those policies directly shape what beneficiaries have access to and how providers are reimbursed, guiding clinical practice and resource use.

Pharmaceutical advertising is overseen by the FDA, which regulates how drugs and devices are marketed. Providing long-term care in private facilities is the role of the providers themselves, with CMS involvement mainly through certification and regulation of facilities, not as the direct provider. Conducting clinical trials is primarily the domain of research bodies and regulatory agencies like the NIH and FDA. So, the duty that best matches CMS’s responsibilities is developing coverage policies.