Question

Please read the NY Times article.

Write a one page paper about your impressions of the medicaid funding issues in NY based on the NY Times article, the videos, and the look back issue.

https://www.nytimes.com/2011/02/19/opinion/19sat1.html

What is the primary funding source for Medicare and Medicaid?

What is the difference between Medicare Part A and B?

What does the waiver program allow states to do?

What is the length of time Medicare will pay for long term coverage?

Answer 1

Medicare and Medicaid are the two federal agency run by the Centers for Medicaid and Medicare services which is a division of Department of Health and Human Services. Medicare is a social insurance program that covers 44 million people and Medicaid is a social welfare program that covers 40 million people. Medicare is primarily funded by payroll taxes of employees, employer, and the self-employed. The additional fund includes income taxes paid on social security benefits, fund investment, etc. Medicaid fund depends on the states. It receives fund from the HMOs through the fee-for-service payments and reimbursement through the program.

Medicare insurance program pays for the care of elderly and disabled people. It consists of

• Medicare Part A
• Medicare Part B

Medicare Part A is also called as Hospital Insurance which pays for the home health services such as physical, occupational, and home health services. It also pays the room for the hospital stay, meals, supplies, and testing. It also covers the medical equipment of wheelchair and walkers. This does not need to pay the premium on a monthly basis because it is covered by the payroll taxes.

Medicare Part B was otherwise known as Supplementary Medical Insurance covers the pay of physician visits, Outpatient hospital visits, home care costs and other costs of disabled. It requires payment of monthly premium.

Waiver program allows to home and community-based services, mental health services, and specific healthcare services. It allows providing long of term services in the home and the community. It provides services to the elderly and disabled people.

Medicare covers the length of stay of the hospital for 90 days in case of illness. If it extends then the individual has to pay a higher copayment. It covers 190 inpatient days of psychiatric hospital stay. For the continuing skilled nursing care, it covers for 20days and shares half of the cost from day 21 to 100 days. For long-term care of physical and occupational therapy, it covers up to $1920.