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2-1Discussion-MedicareMedicaidandHIPAA.docx

Running head: MEDICARE, MEDICAID AND HIPAA 1

MEDICARE, MEDICAID AND HIPAA 2

MEDICARE, MEDICAID AND HIPAA 3

Medicare refers to a federal health insurance program that covers people who are 65 years and above, young people who have disabilities and also people with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) i.e. kidney failure that requires transplant or dialysis. There are three parts of Medicare service covers including Medicare part A, which is hospice insurance covering inpatient services, hospice care, and home healthcare. Medicare part B is medical insurance covering outpatient services, preventive services, medical supplies, and other doctor services. Medicare part D, which covers adds drug prescriptions. Medicare provides coverage to low-class people, elderly and people living with a disability (Nanof, 2016).

It services are affordable due to its low costs and offers additional Medicare advantage plus with more benefits like a free visual and dental checkup. Medicare has led to drug prescription innovation thus creating a business opportunity for drug companies. This has led to increased quality of drugs to international standards so that the companies can compete with the market. However, Medicare has faced challenges it costly to the administration, which could have been used to fund other valuable programs like education and social justice. People who are sick, elderly are entitled to high charges that the healthy people thus there is a lack of equality those who stay long in hospitals also are charge highly.

Medicaid is a health program funded by state and federal government that covers. It covers many American including children, pregnant women, elderly adults, adults, and those with disabilities. Medicaid is governed by federals that only entitled to the low-income people who are below cut off levels. These make sure that only those who are really in need are covered. Medicaid supports the local economies and offers financial protection to the people since medical expenses are covered (Sommers et al, 2013).

It provides insurance coverage to the unemployed people who do not receive insurance cover since they are not employed. Medicaid ensures that there are no cost-shifting issues as it provides momentary coverage for less fortunate people. Medicaid challenges include delayed medical attention with appointments of over 30 days since a lot of people need it. Some doctors do not accept patients under the Medicaid program due to the delayed and low compensation from the state. They opt to treat patients with private insurance since they make more money. Medicaid kills the private insurance sectors because they charge high rates than the Medicaid program, thus people opt to move to the program.

Health insurance portability and accountability act (HIPAA) it's a health care program that ensures that a portable, accessible and renewable care plan is provided to each person. It's a plan that ensures a patient's medical data is shared in the health system to prevent fraud. In HIPAA there is privacy patient's healthcare information and decision-making. These are because there are buffer zones at doctor's offices to prevent individuals from hearing other people cases. HIPAA allows patients to see and contribute to their medical files by providing extra information or correcting mistakes. The program created job opportunities for me medical professionals and experts. However, HIPAA has a lot of challenges as it gives the administration headache.

Thus the professionals have to be concise with the patient's health information because the patient also can access them (Mintzer, 2018). The rules violators including the health practitioners are entitled to fines even when small data breaches like disclosing patients health information, he/she he is entitled to a fine not more than $50,000 or one year imprisonment or both.

References

Nanof, T. (2016). The Facts About Treating Medicare Beneficiaries. The ASHA Leader, 21(7), 28-30. DOI: 10.1044/leader.bml.21072016.28

Sommers, B., Arntson, E., Kenney, G., & Epstein, A. (2013). Lessons from Early Medicaid Expansions Under Health Reform: Interviews with Medicaid Officials. Medicare & Medicaid Research Review, 3(4), E1-E23. DOI: 10.5600/mmrr.003.04.a02

Mintzer, S. (2018). Potential Harms of HIPAA. JAMA, 320(22), 2379. DOI: 10.1001/jama.2018.17179