The Health Department: What's Going on in America's Health Care System?

Healthcare in the United States is broken. The price of treatment is high, and many Americans who need care can’t afford it. There are also enormous disparities in access to care, from rural communities to underserved urban neighborhoods. America needs a healthcare system that works for everyone. Fortunately, new ideas about how care should be delivered are beginning to take root. We need more of these ideas if we are going to get to a place where all Americans can access affordable and reliable health care. If you’re like most people, then you probably have little idea what the federal government does when it comes to healthcare policy or the various programs designed to improve the system. This article will give you an overview of some of the bigger issues at play in America's health...

Index

What Does the Federal Government Do in Health Care?
The Affordable Care Act
Deficit-Related Health Care Policy
Medicare and Medicaid
State Measures
Conclusion

What Does the Federal Government Do in Health Care?

Government health care programs work in tandem with private health insurance programs to guarantee access to health care for American citizens. The federal government, through the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMMC), is responsible for the administration of Medicare and Medicaid, while the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is responsible for the regulation of private insurance.

The Affordable Care Act

The Affordable Care Act (ACA) is the federal government’s signature health care law. The act was signed into law in March 2010, and it is scheduled to be implemented on January 1, 2014. Under this law, the uninsured number is expected to fall below 30% for the first time in American history. As a result of the ACA, a new health insurance marketplace will be established where individuals will be able to compare shop for health insurance coverage. Under this law, insurance companies will be required to accept any individual who applies for coverage, regardless of health status or prior medical history. In addition, young adults will be able to stay on their parent's health insurance until age 26.

Deficit-Related Health Care Policy

Since the 1960s, the federal government has implemented a variety of policies designed to promote health among the American public. These policies aim to reduce the incidence of chronic diseases and curb the rising health care costs of the nation. One of the main policy objectives of this type is to lower the incidence of obesity, which is associated with a number of health conditions, including type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, certain types of cancer, and certain types of arthritis. In order to accomplish this goal, the federal government has implemented a number of initiatives, including the following: - Tax credits for health insurance premiums - This program provides annual tax credits to individuals who purchase health insurance. The amount of the credit depends on the income and the filing status of the individual.

Medicare and Medicaid

Medicare is a federal health insurance program for individuals aged 65 and older and certain disabled individuals. For individuals who do not qualify for Medicare, Medicaid is the major public health insurance program in the United States. The federal government is responsible for administering Medicare, while state governments administer Medicaid. Under both programs, individuals are eligible for coverage only if they have paid into the system. For individuals who have paid into the system, this means that they will have access to health care regardless of their income. The federal government and state governments are also responsible for funding the costs of these programs. Medicare is funded through a payroll tax of 1.45% of wages and a hospital insurance surcharge of 0.9% of wages. Since the program’s inception, the federal government has promised to cover all costs for individuals who are older than 65 years old and to cover all medical expenses for individuals who are younger than that age. Medicaid is funded through a combination of state and federal dollars Healthcare.

State Measures

A number of state governments have taken it upon themselves to implement self-financed health care programs. In these state programs, a third party will provide health care services that are paid for by the state government. The most well-known state program is the Massachusetts healthcare law, which was implemented in 2006. The Massachusetts healthcare law is based on the concept of health care as a right, akin to education. As such, the law mandates that all citizens have access to health care, regardless of income or health status. The Massachusetts law also limits the ability of insurance companies to charge higher premiums to individuals who have pre-existing health conditions. The Connecticut health care program is similar to the Massachusetts law in that it is based on the concept of health care as a right. The differences between the laws lie in the payment structures Healthcare.

Conclusion

The federal government, through the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMMC), is responsible for the administration of Medicare and Medicaid, while the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is responsible for the regulation of private insurance. The ACA is the federal government’s signature health care law. Medicare, Medicaid, and the individual insurance marketplace are all federal programs. As you can see, there are a lot of moving parts in the federal government’s role in health care. Breaking down the federal government’s role in health care can be a little overwhelming. But it is important to remember that the only way to ensure that all Americans have access to affordable health care is if the federal government acts as a partner with state governments and the private sector.