Hospital benefits of a nationwide health insurance program for persons age 65 years and older and certain disabled or blind individuals regardless of income, administered by Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), formerly HCFA. It was established by §1811 of Title XVIII of the Social Security Act of 1965. Local Social Security offices take applications and supply information about the program. Benefits include hospital, nursing home, hospice, home health, and other inpatient care. Insurance claims are transmitted to fiscal intermediaries for payment. Ten regional offices provide CMS with a decentralized administration and delivery of Medicare programs. Each regional office oversees private insurance companies that contract with the government to process and pay for Medicare Part A benefits. Medicare hospital insurance is also referred to as “HI.”