What was created in 1977 to oversee Medicare and Medicaid?

The Health Care Financing Administration (HCFA) was established in 1977 to manage the Medicare and Medicaid programs. This agency's primary role was to oversee the implementation of these vital healthcare programs, ensuring that they provided essential services to eligible individuals. HCFA focused on regulating costs and improving the quality of care available under Medicare and Medicaid, playing a critical role in healthcare reform and accessibility.

The other options pertain to different aspects of health and financial oversight. The Department of Health and Human Services, while related to health administration, was formed earlier in 1953 and encompasses a broader range of public health initiatives beyond just Medicare and Medicaid. The Centers for Disease Control is primarily focused on disease prevention and public health, rather than the administration of healthcare financing. Similarly, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau was established much later, in 2010, with the aim of protecting consumers in the financial sector, rather than overseeing healthcare programs.