Medicare: Higher Expected Spending and Call for New Benefit Underscore Need for Meaningful Reform

United States Government Publishing Office publisher pbl distributor dst United States Government Accountability Office author aut Government Organization text government publication eng GAOREPORTS Legislative Agency Publications gao legislative 2010-08-12 U.S. Government Printing Office 2001-03-22 monographic deposited born digital 19 p. GA 1.13:GAO-01-539T https://www.govinfo.gov/app/details/GAOREPORTS-GAO-01-539T P0b002ee18037fa7a f:d01539t DGPO 2010-08-12 2011-03-23 GAOREPORTS-GAO-01-539T machine generated eng fdlp REPORT GAOREPORTS-GAO-01-539T GAO-01-539T Cost analysis Future budget projections Health care costs Health care programs Health insurance Health insurance cost control Managed health care Risk management Medicaid Program Medicare Choice Program Medicare Hospital Insurance Trust Fund Medicare Program Testimony Y1990 Medicare: Higher Expected Spending and Call for New Benefit Underscore Need for Meaningful Reform In determining how to reform the Medicare program, much is at stake--not only the future of Medicare itself but also assuring the nation's future fiscal flexibility to pursue other important national goals and programs. Engaging in a comprehensive effort to reform the Medicare program and put it on a sustainable path for the future would help fulfill this generation's stewardship responsibility to succeeding generations. It would also help to preserve some capacity for future generations to make their own choices for what role they want the federal government to play. Updating Medicare's benefit package may be a necessary part of any realistic reform program. Such changes, however, need to be considered in the context of Medicare's long-term fiscal outlook and the need to make changes in ways that will promote the program's longer-term sustainability. Specifically, it must be acknowledged that adding prescription drug coverage to the Medicare program would have a substantial impact on program costs. At the same time, many beleive it is needed to ensure the financial well-being and health of many of its beneficiaries. The challenge will be in designing and implementing drug coverage that will minimize the financial implications for Medicare while maximizing the positive effect of such coverage on Medicare beneficiaries. Most importantly, any substantial benefit reform should be coupled with other meaningful program reforms that will help to ensure the long-term sustainability of the program. https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/GAOREPORTS-GAO-01-539T/html/GAOREPORTS-GAO-01-539T.htm https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/GAOREPORTS-GAO-01-539T/pdf/GAOREPORTS-GAO-01-539T.pdf GAO-01-539T https://www.govinfo.gov/app/details/GAOREPORTS-GAO-01-539T Testimony GAO-01-539T; Medicare: Higher Expected Spending and Call for New Benefit Underscore Need for Meaningful Reform; Cost analysis Future budget projections Health care costs Health care programs Health insurance Health insurance cost control Managed health care Risk management Medicaid Program Medicare Choice Program Medicare Hospital Insurance Trust Fund Medicare Program