Medicare: Rapid Spending Growth Calls for More Prudent Purchasing
(Testimony, 06/28/95, GAO/T-HEHS-95-193).

Last year, federal spending for Medicare totaled $162 billion--more than
$440 million a day.  In March 1995, the Congressional Budget Office
estimated that these outlays would approach $350 billion by 2002.  In
2005, they could exceed $460 billion unless changes are made.  This
testimony discusses ways in which the Medicare program could avoid
excessive or unnecessary spending.  GAO examines areas of rapid spending
growth and ways to conserve program dollars--mainly by revising
reimbursement policies and better controlling unwarranted use of
services.

--------------------------- Indexing Terms -----------------------------

 REPORTNUM:  T-HEHS-95-193
     TITLE:  Medicare: Rapid Spending Growth Calls for More Prudent 
             Purchasing
      DATE:  06/28/95
   SUBJECT:  Medicare programs
             Health care cost control
             Medical services rates
             Medical economic analysis
             Questionable payments
             Medical expense claims
             Hospital care services
             Claims processing
             Billing procedures
             Beneficiaries
IDENTIFIER:  Medicare Prospective Payment System
             Medicare Resource-Based Relative Value Scale
             
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