The sources I have found so far are adequate. They have provided information on the political history of Medicare and Medicaid in the 1960s, the various parts and service provisions of Medicare as well as the relationship between healthcare and civil rights. The sources are:
Health Care, Human Services, and Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 by FindLaw organization
Medicare and Medicaid by Thomson Gale
The 50th anniversary of Medicare and Medicaid: Providing Hope for the ACA’s Future by Justin Morgan
Reaction Notes
In 1965, President Lyndon Johnson signed the Social Security Amendments that resulted in the initiation of Medicare and Medicaid in America (Morgan par 3). Previous attempt to introduce accessible health insurance were met with resistance. Similarly, President Lyndon’s endeavor to provide health coverage for the elderly, disabled and the economically marginalized population in the US was met with political resistance and ridicule despite the fact that approximately 60% of the public population supported the program that would cover medical care for pensioners (Morgan par 3).
Republican conservatives opposed the Medicare program. Politicians such as Ronald Reagan, Barry Goldwater, and Bob Dole among others saw Medicare as an introduction of socialism in the USA. George H. W. Bush referred the program as “socialized Medicine” (Morgan par 3). Some opposers were afraid that health coverage would be the beginning of a Soviet-Style of leadership that would take away the American freedom. Others like Barry Goldwater ridiculed it and equated it to free vacations and free beers for the elderly. This misplaced fears, however, never materialized.
The Medicaid program received less political attention and resistance. Its implementation at the national level was almost immediate with only a few conservative states showing resistance. Political opponents continued to stigmatize and paint the Medicaid initiative as a charity program (Morgan par 4).
The Medicare program has four sections; part A, B, C, and D. The first part of Medicare, Part A, is financed by Social Security taxes (Gale par 4). It covers inpatient care (up to 90 days), nursing services (a maximum of 100 days), and home care (up to 100 visits after an inpatient stay of more than three days), and hospice care (Gale par 4). The inpatient, nursing, and home care services mentioned above are offered per “spell of sickness” (Gale par 4).This plan also provides psychiatric inpatient care (a maximum of 190 days) and blood transfusion services (the first three pints in a year are catered for by the beneficially).
Part B allows beneficiaries to pay an extra fee that covers physician services, medical equipment, Outpatient care (physical and mental), laboratory tests, therapy sessions, home care, and preventive services (Gale par 5). The Medicare Advantage initiative (Part C) offers Medicare benefits under private plans while Part D covers prescription drugs to persons eligible for Medicare (Gale par 6).
Part A of the Medicare cover provides free albeit limited physical and mental health services. Mostly, the services covered here are inpatient care and services following a minimum of three days hospital admission. The benefits are expanded in the Part B and C plan that includes outpatient services. The prescription drugs plan (Part D) is available to persons enrolled for the Part C, other Medicare arrangements that cater for drugs as well as Part D enrollees (Gale par 7).
Every human being should be able to access quality medical services (physical and mental) regardless of their color, origin, or social status. Health care is, therefore, a civil rights issue. Every human being has a right to health care. Title 6 of the 1964 Civil Rights Act is an American law that provides protection against prejudice in federal programs by color or race (Findlaw.com par 1). Federal financial assistance cannot be withheld for eligible persons for racial reasons. Medicaid and Medicare services, as well as other health care programs offered by the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), are covered in Title 6 (Findlaw.com par 1).
Works Cited
FindLaw organization. “Health Care, Human Services and Title IV of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.” < http://civilrights.findlaw.com/discrimination/health-care-human-services-and-title-vi-of-the-civil-rights-act.html>
Gale, Thomson. (2007). “Medicare and Medicaid.” <http://www.encyclopedia.com/topic/Medicare_and_Medicaid.aspx >
Morgan, Justin. (2015). “The 50th Anniversary of Medicare and Medicaid: Providing Hope for the ACA’s Future.” <https://www.americanprogress.org/issues/healthcare/news/2015/07/30/118395/the-50th-anniversary-of-medicare-and-medicaid-providing-hope-for-the-acas-future/>
