1965-1995: Medicare at a crossroads
Article Abstract:
Private market practices may improve Medicare services and prevent the fund from going bankrupt. Limiting the government's role in Medicare and increasing efficiency would upgrade Medicare and provide more options for enrollees. Thirty years ago Medicare costs were $3 billion annually, compared to $180 billion currently. The health care insurance program has expanded to include coverage to disabled people, home health benefits and hospice care. Medicare also acts as a secondary payer for disabled who are covered by their employer. Medicare spending grows at a 10.5% rate annually, which is about twice that of private health insurance. Medicare has not kept up with modern innovations in medicine. The program should be administered by providers who know more about medicine than government bureaucrats.
Publication Name: JAMA, The Journal of the American Medical Association
Subject: Health
ISSN: 0098-7484
Year: 1995
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Use of mammography services by women aged greater than or equal to 65 years enrolled in Medicare - United States, 1991-1993
Article Abstract:
Only one-quarter of elderly women on Medicare receive a biennial mammogram. Researchers at the Health Care Financing Administration reviewed Medicare claims data between 1991 and 1993 to estimate the number of women over 65 who got a mammogram during that time. Of the approximately 16 million elderly women covered by Medicare, only 3.8-4.0 million had one or more mammograms. Women over 80 were less than half as likely to get a mammogram and black women were also less likely. Poor women may not be able to pay the $100 deductible required by Medicare. Many women may not be aware that Medicare reimburses 80% of the cost of a mammogram. Many organizations are doing their best to raise awareness of the Medicare reimbursement of biennial mammograms, which has been in effect since Jan 1991.
Publication Name: JAMA, The Journal of the American Medical Association
Subject: Health
ISSN: 0098-7484
Year: 1995
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Cost of patient follow-up after potentially curative colorectal cancer treatment
Article Abstract:
Charges for colorectal cancer treatment follow-up care may vary widely. Average charges using 1992 data were linked with 11 follow-up approaches over a five-year period. Per patient treatment charges modeled from Medicare fees ranged from $910 to $26,717. Charges allowed by Medicare ranged from $561 to $16,492. Higher cost of treatment was not linked to increased survival. Cancer recurrences are often detected by chest x-ray, serum carcinoembryonic antigen test (CEA) and colonoscopy. The most expensive approaches involved frequent colonoscopy. Computed tomography to detect liver metastases is also high-priced. The least costly involved office visits and one or two tests such as liver function tests, fecal occult blood tests, chest x-ray, CEA and blood cell counts.
Publication Name: JAMA, The Journal of the American Medical Association
Subject: Health
ISSN: 0098-7484
Year: 1995
User Contributions:
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