Verified Document

Evolution Of Medicare And Medicaid Term Paper

The 50s

As social security became popular and Congress passed bills raising social security benefits in that decade, reformers were inclined to extend health insurance to social security beneficiaries, mostly elderly persons (Berkowitz 2001). Most of them had stopped paying for their employer-based health insurance and had high morbidity rates. The federal government could then come in as a health provider through what came to be Medicare. The concept of limiting federally financed national health insurance for the elderly received congressional attention in 1957 (Berkowitz).

In 1961, President John F. Kennedy endorsed a Medicare bill, followed by a long campaign for its passage (Berkowitz 2001). The concept of national health insurance underwent another transformation or major change of sharing common grounds with private health providers. The inclination to accommodate private health providers soon gained ground. In 1964, the Senate passed a Medicare bill, which was carried over to the new Congress then to convene in 1965. The emphasis given to Medicare relegated Medicaid to the backseat. But in March of 1965, Wilbur Mills of the powerful Ways and Means Committee recommended the combining of the administration approach and that of John Byrnes of the same Committee. This created Medicaid, which incorporated elements of Eldercare, which would be a supplement to Medicare instead of as a substitute. Medicaid became a law as a supplement in 1965 and later greatly influenced health care finance (Berkowitz).

Health Care Spending Rises Steeply

Statistics showed a record-high level of healthcare spending and growth at $1.6 trillion in 2002, which topped the rest of the economy in the fourth straight year (Sherman 2004). Hospital and prescription drug expenses went up by 9.3% over the past year's level....

Experts said that this continued increase burdened the healthcare systems and all the sectors. The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development in 2001 said that the U.S. spent more per person on health than any other developed nation. Senator Edward Kennedy interpreted this as a call to prompt action in controlling health care costs. Overseers, however, did not immediately respond to the urgent call (Sherman).
In response to the resurgent growth of hospital spending, States began imposing limits on the Medicaid program for the poor to contain costs (Sherman 2004). Private insurance, out-of-pocket spending and public funds accounted for the resurgence. But the biggest contributor was a small increase in older and disabled Medicaid recipients in their share of the spending (Sherman).

Conclusion

The findings of a study published in the January-February issue of Health Affairs said that the rate of growth of Medicare and Medicaid costs had decelerated in 2003 as compared with those of previous years (Edwards 2005). The ominous growth was said to have been contained for nursing home services. According to the study, Medicare spending in 2003 was only 1.3% as compared to 11.4% in 2002. This was viewed as the consequence of the expiration of funding. Increases in Medicaid spending for nursing home were also reported to have slowed down from 8.1% in 2002 to only 1% in 2003 as the States began to reduce Medicaid costs (Edwards).

Bibliography

Berkowitz, E. (2005). The past as prologue. 15 pages. Health Care Financing Review: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

Edwards, D.J. (2005). The Medicare/Medicaid slowdown. 2 pages. Nursing Homes: Medquest Communications LLC

Sherman, M. (2004). U.S. health-care spending surges. 2 pages. Deseret News: Deseret News…

Sources used in this document:
Bibliography

Berkowitz, E. (2005). The past as prologue. 15 pages. Health Care Financing Review: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

Edwards, D.J. (2005). The Medicare/Medicaid slowdown. 2 pages. Nursing Homes: Medquest Communications LLC

Sherman, M. (2004). U.S. health-care spending surges. 2 pages. Deseret News: Deseret News Publishing

Shumaker, R. (2001). Medicaid, Medicare: the differences. 4 pages. Topeka Capital Journal: Proquest Information and Learning Company
Cite this Document:
Copy Bibliography Citation

Related Documents

Medicaid and HMO's
Words: 2428 Length: 9 Document Type: Term Paper

Medicaid has long been an issue of debate throughout the country. Healthcare is a critical need and many Americans do not have any healthcare. Therefore, Medicaid is vitally important because it provides healthcare to the poor. For many years, both federal and state governments have attempted to reduce the cost associated with Medicare. Some states have resorted to allowing HMO's to take responsibility for some of the recipients of Medicaid.

Evolution of Health Care Information Systems
Words: 1425 Length: 5 Document Type: Essay

Evolution of Health Care Information Systems The objective of this study is to compare and contrast a contemporary healthcare facility or physician's office health care facility or physician's office operation of 20 years ago and to identify at least two major events and technological advantages that influenced current HCIS practices. The physician's office and health care facility of 20 years ago was a paper-based operation. All records were paper records, appointments

Health Care System Evolution, Organizational
Words: 3702 Length: 14 Document Type: Essay

(Worcestershire Diabetes: a New model of care Stakeholder event, 2007) The continuum of care for the diabetic patient is shown in the following illustration labeled Figure 1. Diabetes: Continuum of Care Source: Worcestershire Diabetes: a New model of care Stakeholder event (2007) The continuum of care for diabetes begins at the moment that the individual is found to have diabetes and continues across the individual's health care providers and across the varying stages

Centre for Medicare and Medicaid
Words: 1289 Length: 4 Document Type: Research Paper

S.A. It is worth noting that some of these parts that are left out can be very expensive at times particularly when the beneficiary has to pay the out-of-pocket premiums and deductibles as well, and these services could be inevitable like seeking medical services outside the U.S.A. Some of the services left out by the cover at times can be more expensive and life threatening that those covered hence this

History and Evolution of Nonprofit Organizations
Words: 3368 Length: 12 Document Type: Term Paper

Evolution of Non-Profits An organization can essentially be defined as non-profit if it is not under the obligation to distribute any financial surplus to the individuals that are responsible for controlling the use of the assets for the organization. The most typical categories for non-profit organizations are arts, advocacy, civic, education, cultural, health, and human or social service, and these organizations range in size and scope. Non-profits are described by the

Evolution of Family Healthcare
Words: 1789 Length: 6 Document Type: Term Paper

Family Health When considering nursing practice for families, there is a tendency to think of the family as a static entity, existing as it is when first encountered -- and as frequently described in this paper. But families are not static; they evolve as people change and age. For any nurse who is fortunate enough to provide services to a family over a period of years, the challenge is to ensure

Sign Up for Unlimited Study Help

Our semester plans gives you unlimited, unrestricted access to our entire library of resources —writing tools, guides, example essays, tutorials, class notes, and more.

Get Started Now