CMS program contractors are charged with protecting the integrity of which programs?

The correct answer is Medicare and Medicaid because CMS (Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services) is primarily responsible for overseeing these two federal health insurance programs. The agency is tasked with ensuring that both Medicare, which provides health coverage primarily for individuals aged 65 and older, and Medicaid, which assists low-income individuals and families with healthcare, are operated effectively and without fraud or abuse.

Medicare and Medicaid have specific regulations and standards that contractors must follow to maintain compliance and protect the integrity of these programs, including preventing fraud, waste, and abuse, and ensuring beneficiaries have access to necessary care. This aligns with the mission of CMS to improve health outcomes and provide access to quality healthcare for beneficiaries.

In contrast, while Social Security is an important federal program for income support, it does not fall under the jurisdiction of CMS like Medicare and Medicaid do. Private insurance operates under different regulations and does not have the same oversight structure from CMS as the federal programs. CHIP, or the Children's Health Insurance Program, is administered alongside Medicaid but is specifically targeted at children in families with incomes too high to qualify for Medicaid and is not the main focus of the question regarding CMS contractors.