Beltway Happenings
August 19, 2005--Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich called for a 21st Century Responsible Citizen Medicaid Act which would replace the current "utterly hopeless" Medicaid system with three programs, a "Capabilities Program" for Americans with disabilities and workers' compensation injuries, a voucher program so that the poor could buy health savings accounts, and a program to focus on healthy aging.  Gingrich outlined a package of short and long term reforms which he said would produce better outcomes at lower costs for more people.  Among the many ideas he discussed were eliminating waste, fraud and abuse, "a Travelocity model of purchasing drugs," electronic health records, and new innovations such as a phone attachment that helps diabetes patients to manage their condition.  Gingrich said he was "very disappointed" in the recommendations the Department of Health and Human Services' Medicaid Commission issued the previous day.  "Real change requires real change," he stated.
Links
Center for Health Transformation
www.Newt.org
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services: Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services (CMS): Medicaid.
National Governors Association: Medicaid: A Preliminary Report (June 15, 2005).
A Few State Level Examples: FL, IA, MO, NE.
 
 
 
Copyright © 2005  Eric M. Appleman/Democracy in Action