Discussion Assignment

The discussion assignment provides a forum for discussing relevant topics for this week based on the course competencies covered.

For this assignment, make sure you post your initial response to the Discussion Area by Week 1, Day 3.

To support your work, use your course and text readings and also use outside sources. As in all assignments, cite your sources in your work and provide references for the citations in APA format.

Start reviewing and responding to the postings of your classmates as early in the week as possible. Respond to at least two of your classmates. Participate in the discussion by asking a question, providing a statement of clarification, providing a point of view with a rationale, challenging an aspect of the discussion, or indicating a relationship between two or more lines of reasoning in the discussion. Complete your participation for this assignment byWeek 1, Day 7.

Medicare and Medicaid

There are two major forces acting against each other when it comes to government healthcare programs such as Medicare and Medicaid. On one end, you have the forces pushing to privatize the programs and to relinquish the government’s role in providing healthcare. On the other end, you have the forces wanting to expand these types of programs.

Based on your understanding of the topic, answer the following questions:

• Explain the positive and negative aspects of these forces that act against each other, in case of government healthcare programs such as Medicare and Medicaid.
• How do these two forces play a part in the development of healthcare policy relative to government healthcare programs?

All government programs are subject to legislative actions and administrative implementation.

Based on the stages through which each item of public policy passes, answer the following questions:

• How can a government healthcare program that was first envisioned be the same program when implemented?
• Why do public policy and legislative action have such a significant impact on the implementation of government healthcare programs?

State health programs are typically funded in part by federal grants. The federal government pays a percentage of the costs and the states pay for the remaining balance.

Based on your understanding of the above statement, answer the following:

• Discuss the power and discretion states have in making decisions for federally funded health programs.
• Using the PPACA as an example, what role will states play in implementing the policy?
• Describe the level of financial support expected from the federal government.