Implications of the 1965 Amendments to the Social Security Act

Abstract

The recently enacted Social Security basic hospital care, care in skilled nursing Amendments of 1965 provide a tremendous homes, and home health care services. In opportunity to assure that, eventually, all addition older people can purchase, for persons needing medical or health care will $3.00 a month, supplementary medical in be able to receive this care, regardless of surance that covers physicians' services and their ability to pay for it. Public Law 89-97 certain other costs. has appropriately been heralded as a great Acceptance by the Congress of the ne step forward in guaranteeing to our older cessity for a broadly based, contributory citizens that they no longer need face the approach to the basic expensive health care specter of serious illness without resources needs of our older citizens has established for adequate care. Thus a great burden the principle that all older Americans who of fear and financial stress has been lifted, are insured under the social security pro Less generally recognized is the fact that gram or are presently over the age of 65 PL 89-97 is also a monumental child health should have this protection as a matter of measure, opening the way for needed right. This, in addition to being eminently health care—including preventive servworthwhile in itself, has the additional ices—for all children whose families are value of relieving public welfare agencies unable to pay for such care. If full adof some of their present medical care costs vantage is taken of the new provisions, so that such funds may be used to establish essential medical care is guaranteed to the or improve medical care for other groups one-fourth of all children in the United in our population and to meet those med States who live in low-income families. ical needs of older persons that are not cov ered by the social insurance provisions. A second approach in the 1965 Social Security Amendments is the expansion of To accomplish these and related goals for existing programs. The act provides for an other indigent and medically indigent increase in the annual authorizations for people, the Social Security Amendments the maternal and child health and crippled provide several major approaches: children's programs. It also authorizes For the aged—the group for which the project grants to state and local health need for basic health insurance protection agencies and to medical schools and teach under the social insurance system has been ing hospitals affiliated with these schools so well established—the act will provide for comprehensive health programs for ^^—( school and preschool children. ELLEN WINSTON, Ph.D., is U.S. Commissioner of The funds authorized for the maternal Welfare, U.S. Department of Health, Education, and child health and crippled children's and Welfare, Washington, D C. programs are increased, beginning with $45