Description
Over the years there have been many changes to both the Medicaid and the Medicare programs. These changes are due to aspects that include transformations in the health care industry/climate and political environment. With any change, there are always supporters and opponents. As a health care administrator, it is vital that you understand significant modifications to our health care program as well as understand how potential changes will impact health care delivery.
Review the following articles that outline potential issues with the Medicare and Medicaid program:
AARP. (2017). Medicare, Medicaid and ACA. Retrieved from https://www.aarp.org/ppi/issues/medicare/
Beckers Healthcare. (2013, February 8). 18 recent Medicare, Medicaid issues. Retrieved from https://www.beckershospitalreview.com/finance/18-recent-medicare-medicaid-issues-feb-8-2013.html
Kaiser Health News. (2015, July 30). 5 challenges facing Medicaid at 50. Retrieved from the U.S. News & World Report website at https://www.usnews.com/news/articles/2015/07/30/5-challenges-facing-medicaid-at-50
Case Assignment
Having completed the course readings, you should now have a basic understanding of the role of Medicare and Medicaid. For the Module 4 Case Assignment, conduct additional research as needed and prepare a 3- to 4-page argumentative essay that addresses the following:
- Describe two current issues/challenges (based on scholarly literature) with the Medicare and Medicaid program and discuss the impact on health care delivery (2 issues/challenges per program; 4 issues/challenges total).
- Research and discuss both sides issues/challenges.
- Provide your opinion/argument, from a health care administrator perspective, on the current Medicaid and Medicare program with associated recommendations.
- Do not write in first person.
Assignment Expectations
- Conduct additional research to gather sufficient information to justify/support your position and answers to the questions.
- Limit your response to a maximum of 4 pages.
- Include an introduction and conclusion in your paper.
- Support your case with peer-reviewed articles, using at least 3-4 references
Explanation & Answer
Attached.
Running head: MEDICARE AND MEDICAID PROGRAM
1
Medicare and Medicaid Program
Name
Institutional Affiliation
MEDICARE AND MEDICAID PROGRAM
2
Medicare and Medicaid Program
Introduction
Medicare and Medicaid are government initiated programs that focus on the provision of medical
and other health-related services to special groups in the United States. Medicare is a social
welfare or social protection program that provided insurance coverage to more than 56 million
people in 2016. Unlike Medicare, Medicaid refers to a health program designed to support
specific people or individual from low-income households.
Current issues/challenges with the Medicare and Medicaid program
Out-of-pocket spending in health
For more than five decades, Medicaid acted as a critical safety net for the majority of the
American people from low-income households. Although healthcare reforms determined to
promote access to health care, the federal government and states felt the burden of sharing risks
and responsibility of the cost of supporting Medicaid programs AARP, 2017). When health care
users experience challenges when accessing to quality care, patients are forced to make direct
payments get specialized care. However, unregulated out-of-pocket charges can potentially
create a barrier to access needed care. Controversies on user fees may significantly impact on
health care system performance and delivery of quality care. When Medicare and Medicaid
programs fail to protect healthcare consumer from exploitation, out-of-pocket may absorb
households' income meant other basic needs (Fahle, McGarry & Skinner, 2016). More so, out-ofpocket expenditure on health care has an impact on saving behavior and well-being of American
people.
MEDICARE AND MEDICAID PROGRAM
3
Denial of Insurance Coverage to People with Pre-Existing Conditions
Despite states such as Oklahoma and Utah embracing agreement to extend healthcare
provider feed under Medicare and Medicaid, emerging issues suc...
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