What is the role of CMS's Program Integrity activities?

• A. To educate the public about health insurance.
• B. To prevent fraud, waste, and abuse and ensure proper payment of claims through audits, investigations, and enforcement.
• C. To manage patient appointment scheduling.
• D. To issue clinical guidelines.

Answer: (B)

Program Integrity is about safeguarding CMS program funds by preventing fraud, waste, and abuse and making sure claims are paid correctly. It uses data analysis to spot risky billing patterns, conducts audits and medical reviews, launches investigations, and takes enforcement actions when improper payments are found. This combination protects the integrity of Medicare and Medicaid, helps recover overpayments, and ensures that program resources go to appropriate, necessary services. While educating the public, managing appointment scheduling, or issuing clinical guidelines are important in healthcare, they are not the primary focus of Program Integrity.