Meeting the health care challenge: improved program management.

The Health Care Financing Administration (HCFA) is the government agency that administers Medicaid and Medicare, and is responsible for standards and certification programs, and for Professional Standards Review Organizations. HCFA is attempting to improve program management, while securing the very best health care for the 47 million Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries. Better management would allow resources to be focused where the greatest need exists and would thereby increase program effectiveness.