Monday, February 2, 2009

US Stimulus Package Focuses On Health Care

By Ethan Kalvin

There is a new stimulus package working its way through Congress right now which is designed to provide a boost to the economy. Every American surely is familiar with it, but most don't know exactly how it will affect them in their daily lives, nor how it is supposed to work.

There is an estimated $100 billion dollars in the new stimulus package which is earmarked specifically for health care. President Obama has long promised to fix the nation's broken health care system. And now he has committed to implementing new regulations which will monitor the health insurance industry.

The majority of the $100 billion which is set aside for the health care system will be applied to the needs of the unemployed and helping to repair the health care system in the U.S. This spending is also designed to provide a boost to the failing economy.

There is $87 billion designated to relieve the burden of the states to pay their share for Medicaid. COBRA, the probram which helps people continue their insurance after losing employment will also get $25 billion. For many years, the plan to convert from paper medical files to electronic medical files has been considered, but never funded. In the bill $17.9 billion has been set aside to address that. Under the plan, a provider who has 30% or more of their patients on Medicaid will receive a bonus of 85% of their costs. This is designed to encourage doctors to take on Medicaid patients they may have otherwise denied.

The gist is that finally we have a bill which is going to provide some relief to our citizens who need it, while also providing the added benefit of boosting the economy. Of course we all want to see the economy improve, but our everyday lives matter to us also. The unemployed will finally have a plan that will work for them. Hopefully the stimulus package will pass.

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