Which agency maintains the National Coverage Database used in determining care decisions?

• A. National Institutes of Health
• B. Food and Drug Administration
• C. Department of Education
• D. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services

Answer: (D)

The agency responsible is the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. CMS administers Medicare and Medicaid and maintains the National Coverage Determinations database, which houses the nationwide decisions that guide what services Medicare will cover. This database helps shape care decisions and reimbursement policies across the country. The other agencies don’t handle Medicare coverage decisions: the National Institutes of Health focuses on research, the Food and Drug Administration regulates drugs and medical devices, and the Department of Education doesn’t oversee healthcare coverage.