Category: Medicare

Survival for $25,000 – TIME 1971

Survival for $25,000 – TIME:

This is an article about the trials and tribulations kidney failure patients faced before Medicare expanded in 1972 to cover kidney diseases theough its End Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) Program.

At 29, Don Shevlin was just two months away from taking his oral exams for a Ph.D. in English at U.C.L.A. Today, two years later, he has neither the degree nor any prospect of a teaching job. Says he: ‘I see myself as perennially pauperized.’

Shevlin suffers from chronic kidney disease, an incurable type that necessitated the removal of the organ. Now, in order to prevent a fatal buildup of toxins in his blood, he must report to the university hospital three times a week for kidney dialysis, a six-hour cleansing process that enables him to survive until he can get a kidney transplant. Since his illness wiped out his small savings, Shevlin lives on welfare payments of $178 a month, while the State of California pays for most of the cost of his treatments —which amounts to $3,000 a month.

Shevlin’s position is not unique. Nearly 5,000 Americans are currently undergoing regular kidney dialysis. Thousands more would choose such treatment if it were more widely available, but none can escape the gigantic cost of staying alive.

One of the questions I get asked is, “Aren’t you worried that ‘The Government’ will take over and start cutting off care or rationing care?” Not under Democrats.

Medicare and the ESRD program are examples of America’s liberal social justice tendencies accomplishing something.

Too bad kidneys aren’t the only organs that go bad, or we’d already have universal health care.

Presentation for Medicare 44th Anniversary

I gave a presentation in Avalon, PA on the occasion of the 44th Anniversary of Medicare, Thusday July 30, for Organizing for America. Thanks to everyone who came and were so kinly receptive to the talk, and of course to Terry, Al, Peter and Sylus for organizing things!

‘>The slides are here.

The references in the slides are all on this blog somewhere, just search in the upper left hand corner to find them.

Health Affairs Blog Lessons Of Medicare For The New Public Health Insurance Plan

Health Affairs Blog: Lessons Of Medicare For The New Public Health Insurance Plan:

“As Congress grapples with whether a new public health insurance plan should be created as part of health care reform, they should take stock of the nation’s experience with Medicare as a public program. Medicare’s strengths and limitations offer a number of lessons for the current debate.”

A nice summary of what is right about Medicare, as well as what to avoid (i.e., Medicaid) as we develop a Public Plan. Quick summary:

1. Medicare is stable and secure. Medicaid is subject to the whims of state governments and is therefore neither.

2. Medicare is nationally uniform, Medicaid, not so much. In fact Medicaid is pretty awful for uniformity and results in rationing of health care in many parts of the country.

3. Transparent and consistent, resulting in lower administration costs, and more predictability for all. But, they argue, and I agree, that congress should not be making the detailed coverage decisions. these should be delegated to an independant board.

4. Provide innovation and leadership in payment reform.

5. Minimizes administrative costs in a variety of ways. I know I can’t watch a sporting event, television program or anything without seeing my “not-for-profit” insurance company logo all over the place.

6. Public accountability. I always am disbelieving when i hear my conservative friends talk about governement as if it is not us. I reject this, because when we participate, it does work. Of course, the last eight years showed us that the trolley can go off the rails, but we eventually correct.