|
COPYRIGHT 2002 Thomson Financial Inc.
This is the first in a periodic series of perspectives on Medicaid that will appear over the coming weeks.
What is the largest health care program in America? The answer is Medicaid, not Medicare. In fiscal year 2002, Medicaid will serve 44.7 million people, compared to the 40 million Medicare will reach, health care consultant Vernon Smith says in a recent paper, Making Medicaid Better, prepared for the National Governors Association. He cites projections by the Congressional Budget Office that FY 2002 total Medicaid expenditures would amount to $245 billion, compared to $230 billion for Medicare.
The fastest growing American health care program? Again, Medicaid. According to CBO estimates, Smith says, over the FY 2000 to FY 2002 period, Medicaid costs are slated to grow 10 percent annually, as compared to 8 percent for Medicare. Medicaid enrollment will increase by 2.1 million, or 2.3 percent, compared to Medicare increases of 0.9 million people and 1.1 percent.
What is the most important health care program for America's seniors? Here the answer is less clear-cut, but there is at least a legitimate argument that the answer to this question, too, is Medicaid. After all, Medicaid not Medicare pays for long term care--Medicaid is the dominant payer in that area--and Medicaid not Medicare covers prescription drugs, of which the elderly use a disproportionate share.
Despite these facts, to a large extent Medicaid gets elbowed out of the national spotlight by congressional debates about reforming Medicare and adding prescription drug coverage to that program. Yet while the Medicare debates go on--and on and on--Medicaid is being buffeted from several directions. How well the program weathers the storm will determine...
Read the full article for free courtesy of your local library.
|
Bookmark this article
Print this article
Link to this article
Email this article
Digg It!
Add to del.icio.us
RSS
