YEAR 2000 AND MEDICARE: Is Health Service Delivery at Risk?
Sept 27 Opening Statement - Congressman Steve Horn
Through the Medicare program, the government provides health insurance to more than 39 million senior citizens.
Unfortunately, this massive health insurance program has severe weaknesses in its Year 2000 readiness. Medicare has been identified by the President?s Office of Management and Budget as one of 43 essential Federal programs. Yet, two weeks ago, we reported that it is unknown when large portions of the Medicare program will be Year 2000 ready.
The outlook is alarming. As of last week, less than 2 percent of the 230,000 hospitals, nursing homes, doctors and other health care providers who submit claims to Medicare had tested their computer systems with Medicare contractors.
Of the nearly 4,000 health care providers who had begun this testing, many experienced significant failures. Worse, some health providers report that they are just not ready for the January 1 deadline [...]
house.gov
Witnesses' Prepared Testimony:
house.gov
DOUBTS RAISED ON Y2K READINESS OF HEALTH INDUSTRY
By Associated Press, 08/06/99
... Medicare, the government health insurance program for the elderly and disabled, has sent reminder Y2K reminder letters to 1.1 million health care providers, set up a toll-free advice line and held how-to conferences across
the country. But participation rates have been low.
The GAO report recommended that Medicare try public service announcements that might get patients to help spur providers to action ... [39 million senior citizens!]
greenspun.com
WHAT A STUPID IDEA!!!! The government wants the elderly and disabled to do their job, and prod healthcare providers to get them to work on remediating systems??? Yeah. Right.
Cheryl
93 Days until 2000 |
