Overview and Analysis of Government Supported Healthcare Programs

This report provides an overview of government-supported healthcare programs in the United States, focusing on Medicare, Medicaid, and other initiatives like SCHIP, Tri-Care, VHA, and the Indian Health Service. It examines the organization, financing, and delivery of these programs, highlighting their role in providing healthcare services to a significant portion of the American population. The report discusses how these programs are financed through taxpayer money and tax subsidies, and their impact on healthcare demand and delivery. The report also addresses the issue of dual eligibility, where individuals benefit from both Medicare and Medicaid, and the associated cost implications. Furthermore, the report explores the positive impact of government-sponsored insurance on healthcare practice, particularly in enabling access to care for a wider base of consumers and facilitating the delivery of safe and quality care.

Running head: GOVERNMENT SUPPORTED HEALTHCARE
Government Supported Healthcare
Student’s Name
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Government Supported Healthcare
Overview of the government programs.
Organization and Delivery
There are six major government programs that invest in the provision of healthcare
services to approximately one third of Americans. Medicare, Medicaid and SCHIP are intended
for people who have major healthcare needs and poor socioeconomic status including elderly
persons, low-income mothers and children as well as people with disabilities. The other three
including Tri-Care, the Veterans Health Administration program (VHA) and the Indian Health
Service program (HIS) serve specific populations with a particular relationship with the
government such as military personnel and their families, veterans as well as Native Americans
respectively (Barr,2016).
Financing
The government uses tax payers’ money to finance government sponsored health
programs through the federal, state and local governments’ budgets. In 2013 for instance,
Medicare and Medicaid was financed by 14% and 8% respectively of the federal budget. It also
facilitates provision of healthcare services by offering tax subsidies to health care providers so
that health services can be more affordable (Barr, 2016).
Their role as entitlement programs and effect on healthcare demand and delivery
The role of these programs is to deliver health care services to all American citizens who
are eligible. These government-sponsored programs help to reduce the burden of diseases,
injuries and providing healthcare services to about 100million beneficiaries. They assist in

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improving and maintaining the health and functioning of the general population. As a result, both
healthcare providers and patients benefit from the high consistency of quality enhancement
requirements, strategies and processes across these government-supported insurance programs
(Shi and Singh, 2014).
What does this mean?
This means that the federal government ought to take a strong leadership position and
drive the healthcare sector in order to improve the quality and safety of healthcare services. A lot
of taxpayers’ money is spent on these programs and there needs to be accountability seen in
improved healthcare. Consequently, there will be improvements in delivery of safe and quality
healthcare to not only the estimated 100million beneficiaries, but to all Americans (Barr, 2016).
Issue of dual eligibility and cost implications.
Dual eligible beneficiaries are persons who benefit from both Medicare and Medicaid. In
2011 for instance, 9.2 Americans were eligible for dual enrollment calling for the spending of
approximately $319.5 billion. Duals comprise of 14% of the Medicaid enrollment but spend
around 36% of Medicaid expenditures. Likewise, duals make up 20% of Medicare enrollment,
yet they spend 36% of the Medicare finances. They are often in poorer health conditions and
need more care as opposed to other Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries. Additionally, the cost
for long-term care for duals is high because they are a complex group with complicated sets of
needs (Austin&Wetle, 2016).
Impact of government sponsored insurance on my current practice
Medicare, Medicaid and other government-supported insurance have a positive impact on
my current practice. First, they enable me to provide healthcare services to a wide base of health

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consumers who cannot afford to access healthcare due to socioeconomic constraints. Also, it
enables me to focus on delivering safe and quality care to beneficiaries instead of prioritizing
payment methods since the government makes assured payments on their behalf.

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References
Austin, A., &Wetle, V. (2016). The United States Health Care System. Pearson.
Barr, D. A. (2016). Introduction to US Health Policy: the organization, financing and delivery of
health care in America. JHU Press.
Shi, L., Singh, D. A. (2014). Delivering health care in America. Jones &Barlett Learning.