HI 00208.020 Responsibilities of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Regional Offices
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services RO is responsible for a wide range of
administrative activities. These include administrative coordination and operational
appraisals as well as program interpretation and evaluation. Accordingly, the RO role
in coordination of operational activities and assessment of program effectiveness
involves direct contact with intermediaries and carriers. The RO also works closely
with all other agencies and organizations which have direct or indirect involvement
in the Medicare program.
The RO is empowered to exercise the necessary authority, not prohibited by other specific
delegations, for effective implementation of the Medicare program in its geographic
area. It has the responsibility, for example, to emphasize and reiterate program instructions
emanating from central office when it believes that circumstances so warrant. It also
makes current appraisals of specific program or operational issues. This may require
compilation and reporting of selective data within designated time periods. While
various CMS components are involved in the administration of the Medicare program,
the CMS RO is the focal point for control and liaison between intermediary, carrier,
and SSA activities in the field. This role also applies to policy interpretation and
the referral to central office of issues which may require the establishment or revision
of policy. Through these appraisals and recommendations, the RO directly participates
in the development of policy at the central office level.