Different economic theories such as the Classical, Neo-classical, Keynesian and the Growth curve and life cycle theories argue differently about the economic cycles. The neo-classical theorists for example argue that interest rates are crucial in the shift towards the different cycles and therefore by regulating the flow of funds (increasing or decreasing) it is even possible to avoid the economic slump. [ Stanley Salvary, (2004)]
Medicare and Medicaid
Medicaid and Medicare are two important federal healthcare programs that together serve roughly more than 80 million Americans. These programs were included in the Social Securities act in 1965. These programs cater to the healthcare needs of specific groups of people and are both managed by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Medicaid is a Social welfare program that provides health services to pregnant women, Blind or disabled people with limited income, Teenagers living on their own, people who live below poverty line, families below poverty line and for families with dependent children with limited income. [CMS] Medicaid is implemented with the active cooperation of the states with the federal government sharing the costs. Medicaid programs constitute a huge chunk of federal healthcare expenditure. The 2007 figures for Medicaid programs stand at $330 billion roughly constituting 2.4% of the nation's GDP for that year. [Medical News]
Social Protection is the main goal of the Medicaid program and the program has provided healthcare services for millions of low -income people. However, the Medicaid program has been subjected to intense criticism over the recent years relating to its mismanagement and how this is limiting the coverage for the really needy people. One of the significant problems involved in the Medicaid program is to enlist enough providers for the service. The federal government included the 'Equal Access Clause" in the Medicaid act to remove any discrepancies in this regard. This clause requires all State governments to assure that payments are "sufficient to enlist enough providers so that care and services are available . . . At least to the extent . . . available to the general population in the geographic area.." [Sean Jesse, 2009] However the glaring truth is that state governments offer poor reimbursement rates and this has forced most private healthcare providers to reject Medicaid patients.
Since private healthcare participation in Medicaid program is only optional, more and more healthcare providers find it unprofitable leaving the poor patients eligible under Medicaid programs struggling for their healthcare. Complicating the problem is the reducing federal share in the Medicaid Programs and the increasing burden on the states. In 2005, for example federal government spent $177.6 billion while the states contributed $133.8 billion. [Sean Jesse, 2009] The similar figures for 2008 were $192 billion and $146 billion indicating a consistent increase in state commitment to the Medicaid program. [Kaiser Family Foundation] This trend of declining federal matching rate has forced the State governments to lower their reimbursement rates as a cost cutting measure, which is not encouraging for enlisting more private healthcare providers as participants in the Medicaid program. The result is that eligible Medicaid patients are subjected to prolonged waits to receive medical treatment for non-emergency health services. As professor and specialist in health Law services Dr. Sidney D. Watson says, "Medicaid has failed in its mission to care for the poor because doctors refuse to participate in the program." [Sean Jesse, 2009]
Medicare, on the other hand, is a federal social insurance program. Medicare eligibility requirements are for a person to be atleast 65 years of age, or below 65 with disabilities or end stage renal disease. Besides the requirement of U.S. Citizenship or permanent resident status, Medicare program also requires that a person has contributed at least 10 years to the insurance program. The goal of the Medicare program is to offer comprehensive healthcare coverage including, emergency, outpatient, and prescription drugs cost coverage for senior citizens who are...
Public Administration The ultimate aim of a public administrator is the provision of best facilities to the public and to make decisions in a way that have a positive influence on interest of the public. It is important for a public administrator to identify the problems that are being faced by the local people and then to devise strategies that are helpful in solving that problem. In this paper we will
This is what is affectionately known as cutting through the red tape. Politics and Administration 2. Whether or not administration should be separate from politics is one of the abiding controversies of our field. Describe Woodrow Wilson's and Frank Goodnow's positions (and why they argue what they do) on the matter. Then compare and contrast their ideas with those of Luther Gulick and Leonard White. How does Jane Addams conceive the
The inability of the local government to evacuate the city days before the storm arrived and then heed warnings from various federal officials underscores his complacency. As the largest part of Mayor Nagin's evacuation plan was to go to the Superdome or the Convention Center. Once at these locations, the overall amounts of suffering would continue as the break down in communication, would mean that supplies and first responders
Public Administration Implementation On the most basic level, implementation is the action of putting a theory or concept into motion. Implementation involves many elements, including decision-making, communications, politics, budgeting, intergovernmental relations, public administrator's professional expertise, ethics and the general environment. This essay will explore two of these elements, ethics and communications. After some brief comments on the precise definition of "implementation," we will look at the Challenger case in relation to ethics,
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