What does CMS primarily focus on?

The primary focus of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is on patient care and safety. CMS sets forth regulations and standards that healthcare providers must adhere to in order to ensure high-quality care for patients receiving services covered under Medicare and Medicaid. This includes monitoring healthcare outcomes, implementing measures for patient safety, and ensuring that patients receive appropriate and effective treatment. By prioritizing patient care and safety, CMS aims to enhance the overall quality of healthcare services and protect patients from harm within the healthcare system.

While employee training, healthcare costs, and environmental safety are important aspects of healthcare operations, they are generally secondary to the overarching priority of ensuring patient safety and delivering quality care, which CMS actively promotes and regulates through its policies and initiatives.