Nevertheless, we are deemed to believe that such reductions will also affect the benefits for the elderly, due to decreased spending.
However, Medicare programs for elderly are not only based on free pharmaceuticals or free medical care. Several programs target different affections specific to the elderly population. A Medicare test program, for example, introduced in seven states, was imposed to help senior citizens quit smoking through free therapy (Medicare Targets Elderly Smokers). Nursing homes offer the Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE), as an optional benefit under the Medicare and Medicaid programs (http://www.medicare.gov/Nursing/Alternatives/Pace.asp).
Medicare remains a problem today because of an unmatched difference between the need to include prescription drug coverage and free medication into the system and the capacity of the Medicare system to financially sustain such an inclusion. Given the economic axiom that the needs are unlimited, while the resources are always limited, we need to...
A simple reduction of Medicare expenses will not solve the medical treatment issue for the elderly and is not likely to cover the initial objective for which the Medicare system was set up.
Bibliography
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Congress. The Star Ledger. July 2007. On the Internet at http://www.nj.com/business/ledger/index.ssf?/base/business-7/1183441774140490.xml&coll=1.Last retrieved on July 16, 2007
2. Medicare Reform Options. June 2007. Medicare Steering Committee of the Health Practice Council. On the Internet at http://www.actuary.org/pdf/medicare/options_june07.pdf.Last retrieved on July 16, 2007
3. Medicare Targets Elderly Smokers. November 2002. On the Internet
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2002/11/21/health/main530344.shtml.Last retrieved July 16, 2007
4. PACE. http://www.medicare.gov/Nursing/Alternatives/Pace.aspLast retrieved on July 16, 2007
