...From: Alisha Clarke, Chief of Staff Date: 9/9/2012 Re: Medicare Funding Crisis Congressman Hughes, Below, please find the prepared document for the panel discussion. Introduction As you all may know, Medicare is currently the object of scrutiny in regards to its funding and how it is effecting the current healthcare situation. There are many perspectives in which to look at this program to decide whether or not it is actually a positive attempt at resolving current healthcare issues. First and foremost, I believe that our society is misinformed about the current status of the Medicare program. So I will take time out to address key questions in regards to the program. Is Medicare in a state of crisis? Are radical measures necessary to preserve the program? Medicare is so definitely in a state of crisis as we speak. “particularly for Medicare, which is so far underwater it would take several United States’ to pay off just what is owed right now to those who have already paid into the system (and who are therefore owed benefits at some point).” (Emanuel, 2012) It seems that the detrimental effects of the Medicare system will indeed have the most impact on the current senior citizen population, baby boomers, and the military. The reason for this is because the accessibility to physicians seems to be decreasing which could definitely hurt these populations. Physicians who currently participate in the Medicare program are enduring payment cuts which might have them...
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...per capita on health care, and it has the most advanced medical technology system in the world, still it is not the healthiest nation on earth. The system performs so poorly that it leaves 50 million without health coverage and millions more inadequately covered (Garson, 2010). Discussion History of Medicare In 1945, the United States president Harry Truman decided to bring to the attention of the Congress. The message was in an attempt to develop a universal plan that would be applicable to all United States citizens. The Congress contemplated the bill that would establish a healthcare plan. The debate for a comprehensive plan carried on for twenty years. The prolonged wait made president Truman give up on the idea. Even though the president had given up on the healthcare bill, Social Security system and a number of other participants continued the efforts. After two decades of struggle, in 1965, the Medicare and Medicaid plans became legislation after the Congress approved the bill. President Lyndon Johnson’s vision of a “Great Society” and Harry Truman’s initial efforts materialized. It would only be fitting for Harry Truman to be the first person to enlist in Medicare. This Act became applicable to the general public and has been serving since its introduction in 1965. There is currently a debate as to what changes does the Act need to address the changing needs (Shi & Singh, 2009). Health care professionals...
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...Security and Medicare Currently the Social Security Trust Fund is in a surplus, more monies are contributed to the fund then going out to beneficiaries. However, as the number of retirees increase and the number of workers decrease the Social Security Trust Fund becomes depleted quickly, in other words a deficit is created. The future for Social Security is going to have to borrow monies to continue with the current benefit structure, will have to restructure the benefit package, or possibly raise the retirement age to accommodate the increase in beneficiaries, to name a few possible changes. Social Security is far from a crisis but the state of Social Security is headed towards a deficit and into debt. It is estimated that Social Security will continue with a surplus until 2020 and eventually depleting around 2040 (Colander, 2010). The U.S. government is going to have to make adjustments to the current system to ensure that funds will continue to be available to future retirees. Along with the Social Security future going from surplus to deficit and debt is the growing concern of Medicare. As of 2004 Medicare funding by the U.S. government has been increased with the expansions of coverage (Colander, 2010). The growing rate of retirees and the need for medical care and drugs has increased. The future of Medicare is uncertain as medical expense increase and the amount spent per individual using Medicare increases funding is utilized faster. Funding for Medicare will eventually...
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...April 7, 2014 University Health care The United States is having major problems with crisis in health care such as high insurance cost, Medicaid and Medicare recipients, and uninsured people in America. The United States focus on Universal Health care or coverage. “The goal of universal health coverage is to ensure that all people obtain the health services they need without suffering financial hardship when paying for them (WHO, 2014)”. The cost of health care is continuing to rise and millions of people are without medical insurance. Business and facilities are closing, loss of jobs, high unemployment rates have become major crisis in health care in the United States. People who are employed are face with the challenges of being uninsured or paying higher rates but receiving lesser coverage. In addition, I will read and analyze the two articles, “The Health Care Crisis and What to do about it, (Krugman & Robin, 2006)”, and “Health Care Special Issue: Creative Destruction, (Cohn, 2007)”. “THE HEALTH CARE CRISIS AND WHAT TO DO ABOUT IT, (KRUGMAN & WELLS 2006)” The United States are continuing to have health care crisis such as high cost of insurance coverage, people who are uninsured, Medicaid and Medicare recipients, high unemployment rates and many other problems. The article “The Health Care Crisis and What to do about it, (Krugman & Wells, 2006)” discusses the crisis that America is experiencing and what solutions should be taking to improve the system...
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...The Financial Impact of Medicare Rates on a Health Service Organization in Relation to Baby Boomers Retiring Name: Institution: The Financial Impact of Medicare Rates on a Health Service Organization in Relation to Baby Boomers Retiring Baby boomers are adults nearing retirement age and also those who have already retired particularly from 65 years and above. It is the population that was born between the years 1946 and 1964 (Howard, 2009). Baby boomers retire each day in the U.S, and this compromises health care delivery in health service organizations. Today, long term care is in crisis especially in the United States. Statistics indicate that the current health system in the nation is not meeting the needs of baby boomers. This is expected to worsen as according to the census bureau in US; the number of baby boomers is expected to be 77million by the year 2029 (as cited in Richard & Corina, 2010). Baby boomers affect health service organizations financially in that they require critical, attentive and in most cases expensive care. In respect to this, many of them lack Medicare insurance, and this becomes a problem. The massive number of retiring baby boomers will put pressure on the current healthcare system. Approximately three million baby boomers retire each year. Baby boomers impact on health care is overshadowed due to budget battles and federal reform. This paper explores the financial impact of Medicare rates on a health service organization in relation to baby...
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...th The Financial Impact of Medicare Rates on a Health Service Organization in Relation to Baby Boomers Retiring Name: Institution: The Financial Impact of Medicare Rates on a Health Service Organization in Relation to Baby Boomers Retiring Baby boomers are adults nearing retirement age and also those who have already retired particularly from 65 years and above. It is the population that was born between the years 1946 and 1964 (Howard, 2009). Baby boomers retire each day in the U.S, and this compromises health care delivery in health service organizations. Today, long term care is in crisis especially in the United States. Statistics indicate that the current health system in the nation is not meeting the needs of baby boomers. This is expected to worsen as according to the census bureau in US; the number of baby boomers is expected to be 77million by the year 2029 (as cited in Richard & Corina, 2010). Baby boomers affect health service organizations financially in that they require critical, attentive and in most cases expensive care. In respect to this, many of them lack Medicare insurance, and this becomes a problem. The massive number of retiring baby boomers will put pressure on the current healthcare system. Approximately three million baby boomers retire each year. Baby boomers impact on health care is overshadowed due to budget battles and federal reform. This paper explores the financial impact of Medicare rates on a health service organization in relation...
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...bring economic and social challenges. Almost 80 million babies were born in the United States from January 1946 through December 1964. This segment of the population is known as the Baby Boomers. In 2011 the first wave of Baby Boomers began reaching age 65, the age of entitlement. Every day from today for the next 16 years approximately 10,000 Baby Boomers will turn age 65 and become entitled to Medicare (www.politifact.com, 2011). With an increasingly older population come the need for a greater number of prescription drugs, a greater number of medical office visits in order to extend the aged quality of life, and a greater need for long term care. 80 million Americans within the next 16 years will receive some form of government funding for health care adding to the already fraught health care economy. Ageing population puts strain on medical costs: Bernanke warns of ‘fiscal crisis’ With more than 10,000 Baby Boomers reaching the age of retirement and Medicare eligibility every day for the next decade and a half the nation’s and states’ government are facing a disastrous fiscal crisis. The Congressional Budget Office made a projection in 2007 that the federal debt held by the public to gross domestic product ratio will have ballooned to 100% in 2030 however the nation has surpassed this figure as of 2012. The government’s dilemma is how to decrease health care spending while extending the quality of life for these 80 million aging baby boomers....
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...Health Policy and Economics Professor: Eric Oestmann Tools: Gradebook Email Live Doc Sharing Dropbox Journal Webliography Tech Support Help Week 2: Understanding Health Economics - Case Study C S Week 2 Case Study: Solving the Medicare Crisis You are chief of staff to your brother-in-law, Representative Howard Hughes, who was recently elected to fill out a term in Congress. He has been asked to participate in a panel discussion on the Medicare funding crisis. You have been asked to prepare paper for him. The panel is asked to respond to a proposal for reducing Medicare expenditures by enrolling participants in HMOs. What does the Congressperson say? The following key questions must be addressed in the paper: Is Medicare in a state of crisis? Are radical measures necessary to preserve the program? How is Medicare funded now? Why do elderly people feel that Medicare is an insurance program and not a welfare program? Is this perception accurate? Should there be a Medicare program at all? Why should the government be involved in providing insurance to elderly preople? Does Medicare have detrimental effects on the market for healthcare or on the market for health insurance? Are these economic effects, offset by the positive effects of the Medicare program for the elderly? What about the positive effects of caring for the elderly for society? Are there any externalities here? Justify your position on either economic efficiency or equity grounds (or both). Your Congressperson wants...
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...Health Care Spending The current health care expenditures raise the eyebrows of many Americans in the United States because of the increasing costs of health care services. Government officials are taking steps to consider the medical needs of Americans. “Health expenditures in the United States neared $2.6 trillion in 2010, over ten times the $256 billion spent in 1980” (The Henry Kaiser Family Foundation, 2012, para 1). For Americans to understand the spending of health care, this paper will consider the current national health expenditures, if the spending is too much or not enough, where the nation should add or cut costs, and how the public receives payment for health care needs. In addition, the paper will provide a forecast and the importance of the future economic needs of the health care system, and envision how the needs of health care will receive financing. Health care expenditures are not only a burden for people but also are an overwhelming thought for the government to consider a health care reform. The impact of the recession caused many Americans to consider other ways to afford coverage for medical expenses and with the growing changes of the economy, Americans placed concern on health care spending and if it is affordable (The Henry Kaiser Family Foundation, 2012). According to the Henry Kaiser Family Foundation (2012) states, “Since 2001, employer-sponsored health coverage for family premiums have increased by 113%, placing increasing cost burdens...
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...revealed the purchase of electronic medical record (EMR) system, with computerized prescriber-order-entry (CPOE) capabilities, along with an automated call distributor (ACD) line would increase the patient’s experience enhancing this upcoming year’s patient satisfaction scores. The new Affordable Care Act will be discussed and how it will affect any hospitals reimbursement because a vast majority of the patients being serviced will now qualify for more Medicaid programs than last year. This patient population has been determined to be indigent, not having any source of income or insurance to pay for their hospital bill. Research shows that if hospitals are not in alignment with the CMS Medicare and Medicaid patient satisfaction rules and regulations, we could lose this patient population and funding. It was expressed in the interviews with (OSUWMC) management that if the customer service training was more consistent and received additional resources the patient experience would have a greater impact on the responses on the questionnaires, drawing a more positive direction with the hospitals scores and cultural direction. The Research The primary research took place with interviews with a customer service manager and a financial manager of OSUWMC hospitals that provided some enlightening information on complaints received and possible solutions. Staff and patient...
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...Medical Care for an Aging Population Medical Care for an Aging Population Aging – an inevitable event all people face. No matter race, ethnicity, or gender, aging affects all individuals in ways as unique as one’s personality. As the Baby-Boomer generation reaches retirement age, the need for expanding national geriatric medical services has become an urgent matter. Even with an increase in a healthier population of seniors in today’s world, many elderly people often have multiple chronic illnesses, ranging from high blood pressure to such serious diagnosis’s as kidney failure; and both major and minor (or easily treatable diseases) can be expensive to treat. The Unites States, like many other counties of the world, is in a health care crisis. Also like other countries, the U.S. government has stepped to the plate to try to find a solution to be sure not only the aging population’s medical needs are met but also all other citizens of the country. Health Care Reform and health care costs are a current hot topic for the U.S., and many ideas, solutions, and opinions exists on the issue. To further evaluate and gain alternative perspective, three articles (each with a different perspective on the subject) have been reviewed and summarized to help reach a better understanding of what the aging population and rising health care costs they will accrue means to the financial state of the Unites States. Article one is an article related to the increasing demand for medical offices...
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...“Impact of the Health Care Reform on Social Insurance versus Private Insurance” Introduction: Health care cost in the United States continues to spiral out of control. It has become a national crisis for the Unites States government to solve. Medicare, a government health care national program funded by taxpayers is no longer a sufficient funding pool to support the elderly and retirees. In 2012, Medicare program has a growth deficit spending, which totaled $492 billion and expected to hit $895 billion in 2022. Medicare reform was a signature discussion amongst last year presidential candidates. Now we once again asked ourselves the question will healthcare reform work this time? More importantly, should the US government reform existing health care into a social healthcare program, similar to our neighboring country, Canada? Or whether the US government should continue supporting the health care hybrid model: public health care and private health care. Under the public health care, the government continues to subsidies healthcare coverage through Medicare program to the elderly and the retirees. Under the private health care, private corporations continue with employer-based insurance program to provide coverage for the working population? As we know it today the costs of health care continue to soar and the costs are not uniform across the population. With the increasing prevalence of chronic illness amongst the aging population, about 30 percent of the population...
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...Policy Analysis Assignment HA415 After reading the assigned scenario for Congresswoman Moody, it involves what options are available for her to ensure that medical care is available to everyone within her area of jurisdiction. There have been issues with funding and it is my job to having a structured policy analysis to the given situation. First step of a concise policy analysis is defining the problem. In this case, the funds allocated to these trauma centers are nearly exhausted and can potentially cause catastrophic effects on the areas patients. Soon the trauma centers will be refusing the patients who rely on Medicaid and Medicare resources. What can be done to prevent the refusal of healthcare to these patients and ensure that bailouts are not the solution to this healthcare crisis? To provide more in depth about this problem involves the background for a policy analysis. It has been stated that with numerous amount of undocumented workers and the state’s unemployment rate to continually remain high, it is making it difficult for these trauma centers to accept these patients. They rely soley on Medicaid which has caused a depletion of the state’s budget. This has caused two of the three trauma center to rely on private payer instead of federal aid programs. In the long run how can these HCO’s say they are providing quality effective healthcare to their people by denying it to certain groups? This will now lead us to the...
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...there was from the healthcare system.In 1997,Congress passed the Balanced Budget Act in an attempt to reform Medicare and trim waste from the system.But cuts went billions of dollars beyond expectation.Now, the healthcare system is in a financial crisis. Health premiums aren’t paying for the cost of services.Hospitals are being squeezed by managed care companies that are having their own financial troubles.One consequence is the closing of hospitals. MERCY HOSPITAL–DETROIT’S STRUGGLE The east side of Detroit is among the most troubled urban areas in the United States, struggling with a multitude of social and economic challenges.Mercy HospitalDetroit was an important anchor in this neighborhood,not only providing access to healthcare,but also security,employment, leadership,and a place for social interaction.It relied heavily on Medicare, Medicaid,and other government sources for its business—nearly 80 percent of its total admissions. In the early to mid-1990s,Mercy Hospital–Detroit found it increasingly difficult to maintain its fiscal health;operating losses were supplemented by the hospital’s parent company,Mercy Health Services (MHS).1Then,in 1997,the Balanced Budget Reconciliation Act severely reduced Medicare and Medicaid reimbursements. The already struggling hospital was devastated by the cuts.Losses of $1.5 million per month began to mount.The federal and state funding cuts similarly affected operating margins at Mercy’s other hospitals.The MHS Board was faced with system-wide...
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...anniversary of three of the nation’s most important programs for seniors—Medicare, Medicaid, and the Older Americans Act (OAA). It is also the year when advocates and policymakers from across the country will be discussing the future of aging services at the 2015 White House Conference on Aging. “These events offer the perfect opportunity for Congress to expand and reinforce its commitment to supporting older Americans’ health and economic security,” said Howard Bedlin, Vice President of Public Policy & Advocacy for the National Council on Aging (NCOA). “The aging population is growing rapidly, and seniors want to stay independent as long as possible. Now is the time to strengthen and expand aging services to meet the needs of all seniors, especially those who are struggling.” Specifically, NCOA urges Congress to: 1. Protect and assist low-income Medicare beneficiaries The Medicare Qualified Individual (QI) program pays Medicare Part B premiums for beneficiaries whose incomes are 120-135% of poverty—about $14,000-$15,750 per year. Without this assistance, these seniors would not be able to afford doctor visits. Congress temporarily extended QI to March 31, 2015, along with increases in Medicare physician payments. Momentum is building to permanently fix Medicare physician payments. Congress should make the QI program permanent at the same time and fund outreach to help seniors access this and other Medicare low-income benefits, since most who are eligible for assistance...
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