Role of Government in Long-term Health Care Delivery

Role of Government in Long-Term Healthcare Delivery
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Role of Government in Long-Term Healthcare Delivery
The U.S. government plays a significant role in the delivery of healthcare for its citizens. The local, state, and the federal governments, all contribute immensely to the health care delivery through the provision of a range of funding and regulatory mechanisms. In the course of U.S. history, different regimes have come up with different programs to provide healthcare access to the elderly, the poor, the disabled, military personnel, and the general population. The federal government establishes the budget for the healthcare and develops the standards for eligible providers. The state level is tasked with the funding and regulatory mechanisms, but it has to ensure the provision of programs as dictated by the federal government. Finally, the local governments implement the programs as dictated by the state and the federal governments. As seen, the political regime has a role to play in the delivery of healthcare in the country.
There have been a number of reform attempts in healthcare by former regimes. A firm major reform attempt in health care was by President Harry S. Truman. There was little attempt by his predecessor President Roosevelt, and Truman had the opportunity to pursue healthcare reforms for the country. Truman’s proposal was a universal coverage of health insurance, which was to be paid and run by the National Health Insurance Board (Taylor, 2014). The bill together with the second one in 1948 did not go through, but Truman managed to modernize and increase hospitals’ number in the country.
The Eisenhower Administration that lasted between 1952 and 1961 only managed “Military Medicare” (Taylor, 2014). However, significant steps were made in the Kennedy’s Administration that followed. Truman’s proposal was supported by the regime in a more modest form where the insurance covered were provided only for those aged 65 and above. The support laid t...