Today we face an aging population, increasing poverty among younger generations, massive federal budget deficits, and a burgeoning array of entitlement programs for the old, programs that are paid for by the young. For more than 2 decades, some of America’s best minds have been working on solutions to the coming crises in Social Security and Medicare. However, for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction. This article explores the extent of the fiscal crises, some of the proposed solutions, and the impact that these proposals are likely to have on hospitals and health systems.
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