Geographic variation in Medicare spending and the real focus of Medicare reform

Medicare has played a major role in reducing poverty among the elderly and increasing life expectancy. However, the program's benefit package is outdated and should be modernized to include prescription drugs and long-term care. Further, Medicare spending is projected to increase dramatically a...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inHealth affairs (Millwood, Va.) p. W115
Main Authors Baucus, Max, Fowler, Elizabeth J
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published Chevy Chase The People to People Health Foundation, Inc., Project HOPE 01.01.2003
Subjects
Beneficiaries
Competition
Congressional committees
Cost control
Focus groups
Geography
Government programs
Health care expenditures
Health care policy
Life expectancy
Long-term care
Low income groups
Medicaid
Medicare
Older people
Poverty
Prescription drugs
Reforms
United States > US
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Summary:Medicare has played a major role in reducing poverty among the elderly and increasing life expectancy. However, the program's benefit package is outdated and should be modernized to include prescription drugs and long-term care. Further, Medicare spending is projected to increase dramatically as a result of rising health costs, a doubling of eligible beneficiaries in the next thirty years from the retirement of the baby-boom generation, and significant growth in the number of oldest old, who require more care and more intense levels of care than other beneficiaries do. The wide variation in health spending across geographic regions are unknown and subject to controversy. It is suggested that inefficient practice patterns in certain parts of the country contribute to the problem.
ISSN:0278-2715
1544-5208