Can Health Care Costs Be Controlled
Can Health Care Costs be Controlled?
Administrative Responsibility in the Public Sector
Brian Devine
April 2, 2011
Can Health Care Costs be Controlled? Although it has been a hot-button issue for years, the heated debate surrounding health care, the way it is administered, and the costs surrounding it came into full national view during the Fall 2008 Presidential Election cycle, and some would say it became an ultimate deciding factor. It seemed that almost simultaneously the general public cried out for nationalized health care, but almost as vociferously disparaged the expected increase in costs, specifically in new taxes levied against the populous. Now almost three years later, the debate over the cost of health care and what services are administered has trickled down to the state, with recently elected Governor of New York Andrew Cuomo making it his personal crusade to “rein in” spending when it comes to Medicaid and the various services offered under its auspices. This paper aims to focus on health care on both the national and state level. First, there will be an examination of the controversial passage of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act in the Senate and the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010 in the House, and how the United States of America is now facing a shifting landscape within the window of four years, specifically in terms of how health care is delivered, and the costs incurred. Additionally, there will be an examination of the situation that New York State has found itself in, and the recommendations, implications, and repercussions Governor Andrew Cuomo’s “Medicaid Redesign Team” will have on health care within New York State. These issues illustrate, far better than any other, the dilemmas of policymaking in America, both on the national and state level. There are so many questions to be answered, like what is the difference between good health and good health care? In fact, often
Administrative Responsibility in the Public Sector
Brian Devine
April 2, 2011
Can Health Care Costs be Controlled? Although it has been a hot-button issue for years, the heated debate surrounding health care, the way it is administered, and the costs surrounding it came into full national view during the Fall 2008 Presidential Election cycle, and some would say it became an ultimate deciding factor. It seemed that almost simultaneously the general public cried out for nationalized health care, but almost as vociferously disparaged the expected increase in costs, specifically in new taxes levied against the populous. Now almost three years later, the debate over the cost of health care and what services are administered has trickled down to the state, with recently elected Governor of New York Andrew Cuomo making it his personal crusade to “rein in” spending when it comes to Medicaid and the various services offered under its auspices. This paper aims to focus on health care on both the national and state level. First, there will be an examination of the controversial passage of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act in the Senate and the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010 in the House, and how the United States of America is now facing a shifting landscape within the window of four years, specifically in terms of how health care is delivered, and the costs incurred. Additionally, there will be an examination of the situation that New York State has found itself in, and the recommendations, implications, and repercussions Governor Andrew Cuomo’s “Medicaid Redesign Team” will have on health care within New York State. These issues illustrate, far better than any other, the dilemmas of policymaking in America, both on the national and state level. There are so many questions to be answered, like what is the difference between good health and good health care? In fact, often
Cited: 1. Amon, Michael. (2011, February 25) Panel: reform state Medicaid system. 3. Confessore, Nicholas & Kaplan, Thomas. (2011, March 28) Albany strikes budget accord to cut spending 4. Crain. (2011) The Medicaid fix is in. Crain’s New York Business, February 28, 2011, 27 (9), p 5. Dye, Thomas R. (2010) Understanding public policy. 13th Edition, pp. 105-114. 6. Evans, Melanie. (2011) Medicaid on chopping block: New York governor proposes large cuts to help erase budget deficit February 7, 2011, 41 (6), p. 20. Retrieved from EBSCOHost 7 8. Cuomo, Andrew. (2011, March 31) Governor Cuomo announces on time passage of historic, transformational 2011-2012 New York State Budget.