The expansion of Medicaid is one of the high-profile debate in the healthcare industry. The program, however, faces many pressing issues that will inevitably frame its future. Some of these issues include sustainability of leadership, handling of private managed care organizations and the innovation of care coordination. However, it is important to indicate that the three challenges highlighted are not exhaustive. There are other pertinent issues related to the program which is not covered by the three identified issues. Moving to the sustainability of leadership, reports indicate that Medicaid directors’ low compensation compared to corporate CEO could be holding the program back ("State of Dental Care Among Medicaid-Enrolled
According to Barton (2010) Long-term Care “emphasized continuous care over a period of at least 90 days for a range of acute and chronic conditions. Regardless of the length of time (i.e., from weeks to years), LTC is an array of services provided in a range of settings to people who have lost some capacity for independence because of an injury, a chronic illness, or a condition” (pg. 349). This is the description of someone who may have been in a debilitating car accident, an elderly person with Alzheimer’s and dementia, a person diagnosed with chronic mental illness, and individuals who are developmentally delayed or “disabled.” People who are placed in these type of long-term care facilities are usually screened using two different
In a survey conducted in 2003, it highlighted that the recurrent problem is the reimbursement rate from Medicaid to the physician (O’Shea, 2007). The Center for Studying Health System Change (HSC) show that 21% of physicians that state they accept Medicaid have reported they will not accept a new Medicaid patient in 2004-2005(O’Shea, 2007). This number would only logically be assumed to have risen in 2013 A survey conducted by the U.S. National Health reported that researchers have found two standout trends among Medicaid beneficiaries: they have more difficulty getting primary care and specialty care and they visit hospital emergency departments more often than those with private insurance (Seaberg, 2012). The lack of primary and specialty care access is mostly contributed to the following barriers; unable to reach the MD by phone, not having a timely appointment with the MD and lastly unable to find a specialty MD that will accept Medicaid. In a recent report released by the Partnership to Fight Chronic Disease, it stated that about 30% of Medicaid patients experience “extreme uncoordinated care”, there is a strong correlation between this situation and higher Medicaid spending and less quality of care given (Bush, 2012). After January 1st 2013, healthcare providers have experienced a 2% reduction in payments for Medicaid beneficiary, this will only create more of a problem for these patients to seek the
The potential opportunity for the state to opt into the Medicaid expansion is the fact that low-income citizens will be insured. The decision of the state to opt into the Medicaid expansion will also impact the state’s budget, and this is the main challenge (Frakt, 2013). The government will cover majority of all the cost even as Medicaid expansion provides coverage for the low-income uninsured citizens. Expansion of the Medicaid is also a broken system that has poor outcomes, not severe federal strings, high inflation and no incentive for the personal responsibility of the citizens who
Medicare enrollees in Utah have saved about $78 million on prescription drugs due to the ACA. Coverage for both brand name and generic drugs will continue to increase until the coverage gap is closed. The ACA also allows Medicare beneficiaries to seek preventive services without worrying about cost, due to the lack of deductibles and copays. This aids in detecting and treating health problems early on. In Utah in 2014, 220,972 individuals with Medicare used free preventive services. In addition to that, fraud is at a minimum due to tougher screening procedures, penalties, and technology developments.
Throughout the early 1980’s and 1990’s the Federal Medicaid program was challenged by rapidly rising Medicaid program costs and an increasing number of uninsured population. One of the primary reasons for the overall increase in healthcare costs is the
At last, the law gave new alternatives and motivating forces to help states rebalance their Medicaid long haul mind programs for group based administrations and backings as opposed to institutional care. All in all, these arrangements have quickened Medicaid advancement effectively in progress in numerous states. Also improved with the ACA besides Medicaid, is Medicare. The Affordable Care Act incorporates a progression of Medicare changes that will create billions of dollars in reserve funds for Medicare and fortify the care Medicare recipients get. The new law secures ensured benefits for all Medicare recipients, and gives new advantages and administrations to seniors on Medicare that will help keep seniors solid. The law likewise incorporates arrangements that will enhance the nature of care, create and advance new models of care conveyance, suitably value administrations, modernize our wellbeing framework, and battle waste, extortion, and mishandle. A big topic that is affected from ACA is businesses. The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act -- otherwise known as Obamacare -- is putting such a small dent in the profits of U.S. companies that many refer to its impact as 'not material' or 'not significant. Even after a provision went into effect this year requiring companies with 50 or more full-time workers to provide coverage, and after more workers are choosing to enroll in existing company coverage because of another requirement that all Americans get
Why is Medicaid a huge topic in Texas and how does it relate to me? This is one important question to consider. Well this paper will help shed light to the matter and illustrate the urgency for action. Just recently Texas had an option to extend Medicaid, but hastily denied. Medicaid Expansion was part of the Obama care reform in which the federal government gave the 52 states an offer to expand the current Medicaid in was that it would include the coverage of low income adults not only children. The latest on the issue is Texas had agreed on a deal but only temporarily. The agreement on the reform has given Texas some light, but not enough to reach through the other side of the tunnel. Eventually, Texas
The new law added to a per-existing hospital provider tax, which lawmakers love because it leverages federal matching funds that help pay for the state's Medicaid program. Critics objected to the increase because it added a new tax on health insurance.
In the state of Texas Medicaid is funded by state and federal programs. Those eligible to receive Medicare benefit is the low income individuals, families, children, pregnant women, elderly and individuals who suffer with disabilities (Hegar). The Texas Health and Human Service commission (HHSC) distributes the Medicaid (Hegar). Those receiving Medicaid benefits in the fiscal year of 2010 were found to be 55 percent female and 77 percent under the age of 21 (Hegar). Children accounted for 66 percent of all Texas Medicaid recipients in that year; however, 32 percent of those children actually received health care (Hegar).
People don’t like being sick, however, some Missourians forego preventive care, required doctor visits and beneficial medicines because they cannot afford them. They may be working in part time jobs, seasonal jobs or other unskilled labor jobs and lack affordable health insurance. They are the poor people below the 138% federal poverty level (FDP). According to Chris Kelly, a former Representative of the Missouri House for district 24, the West Plains hospital Ozark Medical Center’s (OMC) service area includes more than 9,000 uninsured adults (p1). So, what do you do when you are poor and sick and can’t afford a doctor’s visit? You go to the emergency room of a local hospital and the hospital absorbs that
The Affordable Care Act (ACA) highlighted the importance Medicaid played in insuring every American receive healthcare coverage. (42 U.S.C., 2010) Medicaid provides health benefits to over 71 million across the country. While involvement is optional, all 50 states participate in the program and requirements differ across the nation. The flexibility given to each state has allowed them to make their own decisions to work towards improvements that they believe would best benefit their region (Feldstein, 2015, p. 125-126).
States are being pressured to expand Medicaid to families earning up to $30,000 a year, just like the Affordable Care Act permits. While several respected governors have agreed to expand the program, many other governors and state legislators are cautious. These officials do not want to deny Americans their access to health care, however they do want to slow the expansion of a program that will provide them with limited access to quality care while destroying state budgets. One of the strongest arguments that can be made against the expansion of Medicaid is the fact that States simply can not afford it. The appeal to states to expand Medicaid is that the federal government will cover 100% of the cost through 2016 and eventually lowering to
This paper covers the topic of Texas refusing to expand Medicaid. We will look at where the social welfare program came from, and also look at Obama and his affordable healthcare act in relation to how that is ties into the expansion of Medicaid and why Obama president felt that it was important. We will look at Governor Rick Perry’s along with Governor Greg Abbott’s viewpoints and why it is they that feel expanding Medicaid would not have been in the best interests of Texas. Finally we will take a look at my viewpoints on all of the issues currently at hand.
In 2010 the ACA was passed that expanded Medicare eligibility to include those with incomes up to 133% of the federal poverty level (“ObamaCare Medicaid Expansion,” n.d.). This helped the most impoverished people by providing them with health coverage. Because states cannot be forced to participate in the ACA's Medicaid expansion, not all states have expanded their Medicaid programs to cover individuals with household incomes below a certain level (“ObamaCare Medicaid Expansion,” n.d.). This created a Medicaid coverage gap in between those who can afford health insurance and those who qualify for Medicaid (“ObamaCare Medicaid Expansion,” n.d.). This means that not all U.S. citizens have any type of insurance coverage or access to health
Immigrants that work should be allowed medical coverage when they are working for American agriculture or any American employment. They are all pulling their hours and time to boosting the American economy; therefore, it is only logical for them to have private coverage. I don’t agree that they should receive state Medicaid coverage and should be left for Americans. Medicaid should not available for them until they have been in the use over ten years.