Recommendations of the Task Force on Medicaid and Related Programs

In July 1969, the Secretary of Health, Edur cation, and Welfare appointed a task force to look into the deficiencies of Uedicaid-the Federa&Xtate m-edical assistance program under title XIX of the Social Xecurity Act--and to malce recommendations for improvements in that program and related programs. The 27-n&ember Task Force included persona representing consumers: industry, labor, government. and the social sciences, M well as the medb cnl profession and health in..titution~ and services. The report of the Taslc Force, submitted on June $?g9: contnins 14% recommendations for program improvements and for steps needed to prepare the Nation’s health system to m,eet increased demands. It a7so outlines the complexities and dimensions of the national henlth insurance issue and provides objectives for assessing policy in the financing of national health care. Twenty-on,e of the Task Force Recomm,endatiowy were included in the proposed amendm,ents to the #o&al Security Act, passed by the Hou‘se of Representatives in May and now before the Senate. The Department of Zgealth, Education. and Welfare has taken adminktratke action on several other recommendations, and the remaining proposals are to receive further study. The Bulletin has excerpted the Introduction and Xummary of the Report below, as well as the section on extended-care benefits under Medicare.