Medicare and its History
Medicare is a historic social program that today covers 49.4 million Americans. Healthcare insurance dates back to President Teddy Roosevelt's administration in 1912. During his presidency, the then-President rolled out a national health plan, but it never saw the light of day until it was pushed by President Harry S. Truman, who addressed a message to Congress on November 19, 1945, calling for the formation and installation of a national health insurance fund. Truman's proposal ensured that People would benefit from health insurance that would cover doctor consultation fees, nurse services, hospital visits, laboratory services, and dental treatment. However, the plans of president Truman proved unfruitful until 20 years later when another form of Medicare for Americans 65 years and above came into play. This care plan was contrary to the initial Truman's plan that would cover Americans of all ages. Following the reign of John F. Kennedy, unsuccessful push for a medical care plan for all Americans emerged as well. It was only until president Lyndon B. Johnson in 1965 signed a medical cover legislation that saw Americans receive Medicare health coverage from the Medicare hospitals through various medical insurances that were launched twelve months after the legislation was passed (Cohen, 2015).
Current Medicare Coverage
Currently, Medicare provides medical coverage to anyone in need of medical intervention in the United States of America. This healthcare plan had covered 55.5 million Americans receiving healthcare interventions in 2015 alone according to the Kaiser Foundation. Bursts in the Medicare budgets were expected as a result of the Baby Boomers but unfortunately their retirement made the Congressional Budget Office to retrench the spending on health. The part A of the Medicare has fortunately enough through the integration of the Obamacare contributed in cost savings in healthcare. Additionally, the administration of President Barrack Obama incorporated the Affordable Care Act, which forced doctors to cooperate on the necessary medical needs of the patient such as purchase of drugs and medical services in at rates that are affordable and sustainable rates (Steve, 2016).
Evolution of Medicare and its Impacts
In the 1980s when the Omnibus Reconciliation Act of 1980m was passed by the congress, home health services were expanded. This legislation also brought about Medigap, which acted as a Medicare supplement insurance program. Hospice services for the terminally ill were added to the initial package in 1982 to increase the number of benefits of the Medicare. In 1988, Medicare Catastrophic Coverage Act was passed by the congress. This act had limitations and was later repealed due to its high premium rates. A new law followed that allowed states to buy in people above the age of 65 and those who qualified but had not paid into the payroll of Social Security System. Such people were known as Qualified Medicare Beneficiaries and Medicare paid their premiums.
In the 1990s, new legislations determined that federal Medicaid programs should cover the premiums of Specified Low income Medicare Beneficiary (SLMB) eligible categories. The congress additionally passed legislations such as the Qualified Individual programs that required the Medicare to pay premiums through federal grants for members belonging to Part B whose incomes were 120 to 135 percent of poverty. This program was however limited in annual funding and once exhausted, the beneficiaries lacked the benefits coming from the cover. However, QI program unlike the SLMB and QMB, it was to be reauthorized by every few years by the congress and sadly the state refrained from financing the program. Medicare converge also obtained more eligibility from legislations that gave it more options on the private market through Medicare Advantage (MA) that formed the Medicare Part C. This additional option added to the Medicare coverage facets like prescription drug coverage for enrollees who are new.
In the 2000s, Americans below the age of 65 suffering from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) were given opportunity to enroll for the Medicare. Also, President George W. Bush signed the Medical Prescription Drug Improvement and Modernization Act of 2003 into law. This legislation gave additional benefits forming Part D of the Medicaid program. Private insurers particularly enjoyed this evolution of Medicare.
In 2010, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010 were signed. This act aimed at increasing revenues by the Medicare program and streamlining of healthcare delivery systems (Hodgon, 2011).
Finally in 2015 and 2016, the congress passed Medicare and CHIP Reauthorization Act (MACRA) that aimed accomplishing various reforms and repealing the 1990s formulas of medial care plans. This program extended the premium payments for Part B that aimed at supporting low-income members.
Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA)
HIPAA is an American legislation that ensures security provisions and data privacy by safeguarding medical information. This act was signed into law by president Bill Clinton during his reign in August 1996. HIPAA contains five titles. HIPAA Title I helps in the protection of health insurance coverage for individuals who change or lose their jobs. HIPAA Title II ensures hat the department of Health and Human Services establishes national standards of security the transactions in electronic healthcare. Guidelines for medical care and tax related the HIPAA Title III covers provisions. HIPAA IV clearly defines the health insurance reforms and gives directions for individuals who are pre-existing and seeking continued coverage. Finally, HIPAA Title V covers the provisions guiding company owned life insurances on how thy ought to treat U.S individuals who lose their citizenship as a result of income tax purposes (Minessota Institue of Legal Education, 2003).
References
Hodgson, A. R. (2011). Essays on the Evolution of Health Care Technology. Berkeley, CA.
In Cohen, A. B., In Colby, D. C., In Wailoo, K., & In Zelizer, J. E. (2015). Medicare and Medicaid at 50: America's entitlement programs in the age of affordable care.
Minnesota Institute of Legal Education. (2003). HIPAA. Minneapolis, MN: Minnesota Institute of Legal Education.
Steve Anderson (2016) A brief history of Medicare in America. Retrieved March 27, 2017, from https://www.medicareresources.org/basic-medicare-information/brief- history-of-medicare/
