{"id":821,"date":"2025-03-27T19:19:43","date_gmt":"2025-03-27T13:19:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/kendreger.com\/?p=821"},"modified":"2025-03-27T19:19:43","modified_gmt":"2025-03-27T13:19:43","slug":"status-of-the-us-medical-providers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/kendreger.com\/?p=821","title":{"rendered":"Status of the US Medical Providers"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"css-146c3p1 r-bcqeeo r-1ttztb7 r-qvutc0 r-1qd0xha r-1inkyih r-16dba41 r-1adg3ll r-1b5gpbm r-a8ghvy\" dir=\"ltr\">\n<p><span class=\"css-1jxf684 r-bcqeeo r-1ttztb7 r-qvutc0 r-poiln3\"><span class=\"css-1jxf684 r-bcqeeo r-1ttztb7 r-qvutc0 r-poiln3\"><span class=\"css-1jxf684 r-bcqeeo r-1ttztb7 r-qvutc0 r-poiln3 r-a8ghvy\">Talking about <\/span><\/span><\/span><span class=\"css-1jxf684 r-bcqeeo r-1ttztb7 r-qvutc0 r-poiln3\"><span class=\"css-1jxf684 r-bcqeeo r-1ttztb7 r-qvutc0 r-poiln3 r-a8ghvy\">Medicare<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<div>\n<div class=\"css-146c3p1 r-bcqeeo r-1ttztb7 r-qvutc0 r-1qd0xha r-1inkyih r-16dba41 r-1adg3ll r-1b5gpbm r-a8ghvy\" dir=\"ltr\"><span class=\"css-1jxf684 r-bcqeeo r-1ttztb7 r-qvutc0 r-poiln3\"><span class=\"css-1jxf684 r-bcqeeo r-1ttztb7 r-qvutc0 r-poiln3 r-a8ghvy\">Medicare, the federal health insurance program primarily for people aged 65 and older, faces long-term funding pressures, particularly for its Hospital Insurance (HI) Trust Fund, which covers Medicare Part A (hospital stays, skilled nursing, etc.). This fund relies heavily on payroll taxes, and its solvency is a key concern.<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<ul dir=\"ltr\">\n<li>\n<div class=\"css-146c3p1 r-bcqeeo r-1ttztb7 r-qvutc0 r-1qd0xha r-1inkyih r-hbpseb r-16dba41\" dir=\"ltr\"><span class=\"css-1jxf684 r-bcqeeo r-1ttztb7 r-qvutc0 r-poiln3 r-b88u0q r-a8ghvy\"><span class=\"css-1jxf684 r-bcqeeo r-1ttztb7 r-qvutc0 r-poiln3\"><span class=\"css-1jxf684 r-bcqeeo r-1ttztb7 r-qvutc0 r-poiln3 r-a8ghvy\">Current Status<\/span><\/span><\/span><span class=\"css-1jxf684 r-bcqeeo r-1ttztb7 r-qvutc0 r-poiln3 r-a8ghvy\"><span class=\"css-1jxf684 r-bcqeeo r-1ttztb7 r-qvutc0 r-poiln3\">: The 2024 Medicare Trustees Report projects that the HI Trust Fund will be depleted by 2036 under current law, assuming no major changes. This doesn\u2019t mean Medicare would cease entirely\u2014Part B (outpatient services) and Part D (prescription drugs) are funded through general revenue and premiums, which adjust annually\u2014but Part A payments could be limited to incoming revenue, potentially causing cuts or delays unless Congress acts. <\/span><\/span><a class=\"css-1jxf684 r-bcqeeo r-1ttztb7 r-qvutc0 r-poiln3 r-1loqt21\" role=\"link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.cms.gov\/oact\/tr\/2024\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\" data-copy-preserve=\"1\"><span class=\"css-1jxf684 r-bcqeeo r-1ttztb7 r-qvutc0 r-poiln3\">Source: CMS Trustees Report &#8211; cms.gov<\/span><\/a><\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<div class=\"css-146c3p1 r-bcqeeo r-1ttztb7 r-qvutc0 r-1qd0xha r-1inkyih r-hbpseb r-16dba41\" dir=\"ltr\"><span class=\"css-1jxf684 r-bcqeeo r-1ttztb7 r-qvutc0 r-poiln3 r-b88u0q r-a8ghvy\"><span class=\"css-1jxf684 r-bcqeeo r-1ttztb7 r-qvutc0 r-poiln3\"><span class=\"css-1jxf684 r-bcqeeo r-1ttztb7 r-qvutc0 r-poiln3 r-a8ghvy\">Pressures<\/span><\/span><\/span><span class=\"css-1jxf684 r-bcqeeo r-1ttztb7 r-qvutc0 r-poiln3 r-a8ghvy\"><span class=\"css-1jxf684 r-bcqeeo r-1ttztb7 r-qvutc0 r-poiln3\">: Rising healthcare costs, an aging population (more beneficiaries as Baby Boomers retire), and stagnant payroll tax revenue (due to slower workforce growth) strain the system. The American Medical Association notes that inflation-adjusted Medicare physician payments have dropped 33% since 2001, adding pressure on providers. <\/span><\/span><a class=\"css-1jxf684 r-bcqeeo r-1ttztb7 r-qvutc0 r-poiln3 r-1loqt21\" role=\"link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.ama-assn.org\/practice-management\/medicare-medicaid\/medicare-physician-payment-schedules\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\" data-copy-preserve=\"1\"><span class=\"css-1jxf684 r-bcqeeo r-1ttztb7 r-qvutc0 r-poiln3\">Source: AMA &#8211; ama-assn.org<\/span><\/a><\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<div class=\"css-146c3p1 r-bcqeeo r-1ttztb7 r-qvutc0 r-1qd0xha r-1inkyih r-hbpseb r-16dba41\" dir=\"ltr\"><span class=\"css-1jxf684 r-bcqeeo r-1ttztb7 r-qvutc0 r-poiln3 r-b88u0q r-a8ghvy\"><span class=\"css-1jxf684 r-bcqeeo r-1ttztb7 r-qvutc0 r-poiln3\"><span class=\"css-1jxf684 r-bcqeeo r-1ttztb7 r-qvutc0 r-poiln3 r-a8ghvy\">Recent News<\/span><\/span><\/span><span class=\"css-1jxf684 r-bcqeeo r-1ttztb7 r-qvutc0 r-poiln3 r-a8ghvy\"><span class=\"css-1jxf684 r-bcqeeo r-1ttztb7 r-qvutc0 r-poiln3\">: As of March 2025, discussions around government funding highlight Medicare\u2019s vulnerability. A recession could shrink payroll tax revenue, potentially pushing insolvency within 10 years, per Newsweek. Congress has historically intervened to bolster the fund, and no immediate crisis exists, but unresolved physician payment issues linger in current budget talks. <\/span><\/span><a class=\"css-1jxf684 r-bcqeeo r-1ttztb7 r-qvutc0 r-poiln3 r-1loqt21\" role=\"link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.newsweek.com\/medicare-social-security-cuts-what-know-1979961\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\" data-copy-preserve=\"1\"><span class=\"css-1jxf684 r-bcqeeo r-1ttztb7 r-qvutc0 r-poiln3\">Source: Newsweek &#8211; newsweek.com<\/span><\/a><\/div>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<div class=\"css-146c3p1 r-bcqeeo r-1ttztb7 r-qvutc0 r-1qd0xha r-evnaw r-eaezby r-b88u0q\" dir=\"ltr\"><span class=\"css-1jxf684 r-bcqeeo r-1ttztb7 r-qvutc0 r-poiln3\"><span class=\"css-1jxf684 r-bcqeeo r-1ttztb7 r-qvutc0 r-poiln3 r-a8ghvy\">Medicaid<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"css-146c3p1 r-bcqeeo r-1ttztb7 r-qvutc0 r-1qd0xha r-1inkyih r-16dba41 r-1adg3ll r-1b5gpbm r-a8ghvy\" dir=\"ltr\"><span class=\"css-1jxf684 r-bcqeeo r-1ttztb7 r-qvutc0 r-poiln3\"><span class=\"css-1jxf684 r-bcqeeo r-1ttztb7 r-qvutc0 r-poiln3 r-a8ghvy\">Medicaid, the joint federal-state program for low-income individuals, lacks a trust fund but depends on annual federal and state appropriations. It\u2019s not at risk of &#8220;insolvency&#8221; like Medicare\u2019s HI fund, but it faces significant budgetary strain and political contention.<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<ul dir=\"ltr\">\n<li>\n<div class=\"css-146c3p1 r-bcqeeo r-1ttztb7 r-qvutc0 r-1qd0xha r-1inkyih r-hbpseb r-16dba41\" dir=\"ltr\"><span class=\"css-1jxf684 r-bcqeeo r-1ttztb7 r-qvutc0 r-poiln3 r-b88u0q r-a8ghvy\"><span class=\"css-1jxf684 r-bcqeeo r-1ttztb7 r-qvutc0 r-poiln3\"><span class=\"css-1jxf684 r-bcqeeo r-1ttztb7 r-qvutc0 r-poiln3 r-a8ghvy\">Current Status<\/span><\/span><\/span><span class=\"css-1jxf684 r-bcqeeo r-1ttztb7 r-qvutc0 r-poiln3 r-a8ghvy\"><span class=\"css-1jxf684 r-bcqeeo r-1ttztb7 r-qvutc0 r-poiln3\">: Funding remains stable as long as governments allocate resources, with the federal share covering over half (e.g., $112.1 billion of California\u2019s budget next year). However, costs are rising\u2014California reported a $6.2 billion shortfall in March 2025 due to expanded immigrant coverage and pharmacy expenses, per AP News and CalMatters. <\/span><\/span><a class=\"css-1jxf684 r-bcqeeo r-1ttztb7 r-qvutc0 r-poiln3 r-1loqt21\" role=\"link\" href=\"https:\/\/apnews.com\/article\/california-medicaid-expansion-undocumented-immigrants-cost-6b135e933f721fbd622977ec371dd7a5\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\" data-copy-preserve=\"1\"><span class=\"css-1jxf684 r-bcqeeo r-1ttztb7 r-qvutc0 r-poiln3\">Source: AP News &#8211; apnews.com<\/span><\/a><span class=\"css-1jxf684 r-bcqeeo r-1ttztb7 r-qvutc0 r-poiln3 r-a8ghvy\"><span class=\"css-1jxf684 r-bcqeeo r-1ttztb7 r-qvutc0 r-poiln3\">, <\/span><\/span><a class=\"css-1jxf684 r-bcqeeo r-1ttztb7 r-qvutc0 r-poiln3 r-1loqt21\" role=\"link\" href=\"https:\/\/calmatters.org\/health\/2025\/03\/medi-cal-budget-shortfall-explained\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\" data-copy-preserve=\"1\"><span class=\"css-1jxf684 r-bcqeeo r-1ttztb7 r-qvutc0 r-poiln3\">CalMatters &#8211; calmatters.org<\/span><\/a><\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<div class=\"css-146c3p1 r-bcqeeo r-1ttztb7 r-qvutc0 r-1qd0xha r-1inkyih r-hbpseb r-16dba41\" dir=\"ltr\"><span class=\"css-1jxf684 r-bcqeeo r-1ttztb7 r-qvutc0 r-poiln3 r-b88u0q r-a8ghvy\"><span class=\"css-1jxf684 r-bcqeeo r-1ttztb7 r-qvutc0 r-poiln3\"><span class=\"css-1jxf684 r-bcqeeo r-1ttztb7 r-qvutc0 r-poiln3 r-a8ghvy\">Pressures<\/span><\/span><\/span><span class=\"css-1jxf684 r-bcqeeo r-1ttztb7 r-qvutc0 r-poiln3 r-a8ghvy\"><span class=\"css-1jxf684 r-bcqeeo r-1ttztb7 r-qvutc0 r-poiln3\">: Enrollment spikes (e.g., post-COVID expansions), escalating healthcare costs, and state budget limits create gaps. Illinois, for instance, is eyeing $330 million in cuts, per local reports. Federally, GOP budget proposals in March 2025 target $880 billion in reductions over a decade from the House Energy and Commerce Committee, which oversees Medicaid, according to CBS News and the Congressional Budget Office (CBO). <\/span><\/span><a class=\"css-1jxf684 r-bcqeeo r-1ttztb7 r-qvutc0 r-poiln3 r-1loqt21\" role=\"link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.cbsnews.com\/news\/gop-budget-cuts-medicare-medicaid-social-security\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\" data-copy-preserve=\"1\"><span class=\"css-1jxf684 r-bcqeeo r-1ttztb7 r-qvutc0 r-poiln3\">Source: CBS News &#8211; cbsnews.com<\/span><\/a><span class=\"css-1jxf684 r-bcqeeo r-1ttztb7 r-qvutc0 r-poiln3 r-a8ghvy\"><span class=\"css-1jxf684 r-bcqeeo r-1ttztb7 r-qvutc0 r-poiln3\">, <\/span><\/span><a class=\"css-1jxf684 r-bcqeeo r-1ttztb7 r-qvutc0 r-poiln3 r-1loqt21\" role=\"link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.cbo.gov\/publication\/59774\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\" data-copy-preserve=\"1\"><span class=\"css-1jxf684 r-bcqeeo r-1ttztb7 r-qvutc0 r-poiln3\">CBO &#8211; cbo.gov<\/span><\/a><\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<div class=\"css-146c3p1 r-bcqeeo r-1ttztb7 r-qvutc0 r-1qd0xha r-1inkyih r-hbpseb r-16dba41\" dir=\"ltr\"><span class=\"css-1jxf684 r-bcqeeo r-1ttztb7 r-qvutc0 r-poiln3 r-b88u0q r-a8ghvy\"><span class=\"css-1jxf684 r-bcqeeo r-1ttztb7 r-qvutc0 r-poiln3\"><span class=\"css-1jxf684 r-bcqeeo r-1ttztb7 r-qvutc0 r-poiln3 r-a8ghvy\">Political Risk<\/span><\/span><\/span><span class=\"css-1jxf684 r-bcqeeo r-1ttztb7 r-qvutc0 r-poiln3 r-a8ghvy\"><span class=\"css-1jxf684 r-bcqeeo r-1ttztb7 r-qvutc0 r-poiln3\">: Despite claims from some leaders (e.g., Trump\u2019s stance against cuts), the CBO confirms that meeting GOP spending goals without touching Medicare would necessitate substantial Medicaid reductions, per CNBC. This could shrink coverage for over 80 million enrollees. <\/span><\/span><a class=\"css-1jxf684 r-bcqeeo r-1ttztb7 r-qvutc0 r-poiln3 r-1loqt21\" role=\"link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.cnbc.com\/2025\/03\/20\/medicaid-cuts-budget-congress.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\" data-copy-preserve=\"1\"><span class=\"css-1jxf684 r-bcqeeo r-1ttztb7 r-qvutc0 r-poiln3\">Source: CNBC &#8211; cnbc.com<\/span><\/a><\/div>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<div class=\"css-146c3p1 r-bcqeeo r-1ttztb7 r-qvutc0 r-1qd0xha r-evnaw r-eaezby r-b88u0q\" dir=\"ltr\"><span class=\"css-1jxf684 r-bcqeeo r-1ttztb7 r-qvutc0 r-poiln3\"><span class=\"css-1jxf684 r-bcqeeo r-1ttztb7 r-qvutc0 r-poiln3 r-a8ghvy\">Key Differences and Outlook<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<ul dir=\"ltr\">\n<li>\n<div class=\"css-146c3p1 r-bcqeeo r-1ttztb7 r-qvutc0 r-1qd0xha r-1inkyih r-hbpseb r-16dba41\" dir=\"ltr\"><span class=\"css-1jxf684 r-bcqeeo r-1ttztb7 r-qvutc0 r-poiln3 r-b88u0q r-a8ghvy\"><span class=\"css-1jxf684 r-bcqeeo r-1ttztb7 r-qvutc0 r-poiln3\"><span class=\"css-1jxf684 r-bcqeeo r-1ttztb7 r-qvutc0 r-poiln3 r-a8ghvy\">Medicare<\/span><\/span><\/span><span class=\"css-1jxf684 r-bcqeeo r-1ttztb7 r-qvutc0 r-poiln3 r-a8ghvy\"><span class=\"css-1jxf684 r-bcqeeo r-1ttztb7 r-qvutc0 r-poiln3\">: Faces a structural challenge with the HI Trust Fund\u2019s projected depletion (2036, or sooner in a downturn), though Parts B and D are more secure. Congress is likely to act to prevent a full breakdown, but physician payment disputes threaten care access. <\/span><\/span><a class=\"css-1jxf684 r-bcqeeo r-1ttztb7 r-qvutc0 r-poiln3 r-1loqt21\" role=\"link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.cms.gov\/oact\/tr\/2024\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\" data-copy-preserve=\"1\"><span class=\"css-1jxf684 r-bcqeeo r-1ttztb7 r-qvutc0 r-poiln3\">Source: CMS &#8211; cms.gov<\/span><\/a><\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<div class=\"css-146c3p1 r-bcqeeo r-1ttztb7 r-qvutc0 r-1qd0xha r-1inkyih r-hbpseb r-16dba41\" dir=\"ltr\"><span class=\"css-1jxf684 r-bcqeeo r-1ttztb7 r-qvutc0 r-poiln3 r-b88u0q r-a8ghvy\"><span class=\"css-1jxf684 r-bcqeeo r-1ttztb7 r-qvutc0 r-poiln3\"><span class=\"css-1jxf684 r-bcqeeo r-1ttztb7 r-qvutc0 r-poiln3 r-a8ghvy\">Medicaid<\/span><\/span><\/span><span class=\"css-1jxf684 r-bcqeeo r-1ttztb7 r-qvutc0 r-poiln3 r-a8ghvy\"><span class=\"css-1jxf684 r-bcqeeo r-1ttztb7 r-qvutc0 r-poiln3\">: No fixed depletion risk, but it\u2019s susceptible to immediate budget cuts at federal and state levels. States can adjust eligibility or services, potentially reducing coverage for millions. <\/span><\/span><a class=\"css-1jxf684 r-bcqeeo r-1ttztb7 r-qvutc0 r-poiln3 r-1loqt21\" role=\"link\" href=\"https:\/\/calmatters.org\/health\/2025\/03\/medi-cal-budget-shortfall-explained\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\" data-copy-preserve=\"1\"><span class=\"css-1jxf684 r-bcqeeo r-1ttztb7 r-qvutc0 r-poiln3\">Source: CalMatters &#8211; calmatters.org<\/span><\/a><\/div>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<div class=\"css-146c3p1 r-bcqeeo r-1ttztb7 r-qvutc0 r-1qd0xha r-evnaw r-eaezby r-b88u0q\" dir=\"ltr\"><span class=\"css-1jxf684 r-bcqeeo r-1ttztb7 r-qvutc0 r-poiln3\"><span class=\"css-1jxf684 r-bcqeeo r-1ttztb7 r-qvutc0 r-poiln3 r-a8ghvy\">Conclusion<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"css-146c3p1 r-bcqeeo r-1ttztb7 r-qvutc0 r-1qd0xha r-1inkyih r-16dba41 r-1adg3ll r-1b5gpbm r-a8ghvy\" dir=\"ltr\"><span class=\"css-1jxf684 r-bcqeeo r-1ttztb7 r-qvutc0 r-poiln3\"><span class=\"css-1jxf684 r-bcqeeo r-1ttztb7 r-qvutc0 r-poiln3 r-a8ghvy\">Neither program is \u201cout of money\u201d today, but both face funding trouble. Medicare\u2019s HI Trust Fund has a clear horizon (2036, possibly accelerated by economic factors), while Medicaid\u2019s challenges are more immediate, tied to political and budgetary decisions. March 2025 news highlights these tensions\u2014Medicare\u2019s physician pay issues and Medicaid\u2019s cost overruns signal strain, but no collapse is imminent. Congress has a history of stepping in, though solutions remain uncertain amid partisan divides.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Talking about Medicare Medicare, the federal health insurance program primarily for people aged 65 and older, faces long-term funding pressures, particularly for its Hospital Insurance (HI) Trust Fund, which covers Medicare Part A (hospital stays, skilled nursing, etc.). This fund relies heavily on payroll taxes, and its solvency is a key concern. Current Status: The [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[71],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-821","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-medical-fraud"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/kendreger.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/821","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/kendreger.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/kendreger.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kendreger.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kendreger.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=821"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/kendreger.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/821\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":823,"href":"https:\/\/kendreger.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/821\/revisions\/823"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/kendreger.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=821"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kendreger.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=821"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kendreger.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=821"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}