Background
The Medicare prescription Drug, Improvement and Modernization Act or the MMA is a public medical policy which was enacted in America in the year 2003.It generated the largest overhaul within Medicare history.
The problems that led to the introduction of the of the public health policy
Majority of the elderly Americans cannot afford to abide by a doctor’s advice when it comes to taking prescription drugs. The medication is normally expensive hence leaving their medical needs unmet. Doctors experience the same frustrations with the expensive cost of health medication as they have to take into consideration between what is practically good mediation and what their patients can afford. In a health system where medical personnel do not have the power to control the expenses incurred by their patients, the struggle is really painful.
The national argument on prescription medicine did not take majority of American by surprise. Spending on prescription medicine in the united states of America doubled as fast as the total national medical expenses between the year 1990 and 2000.In the year 2002, adults outpatients, aged 65 years spent a an estimated total of $87billion.This figure was estimated to rise in the coming years. The number of people under Medicare was projected to increase with each passing year as children became adults and became more eligible for the coverage from 41milion t in 2000 to 77million by the year 2030.While the elderly only make up 15% of the total population of America., they are responsible for 40% of the country’s prescription drug expenses.
In an attempt to relief the public from the financial load caused by purchasing prescription medicine, the government came up with the MMA of 2003.Under this medical policy, the public hoped to reduce the expenses they incurred while purchasing prescription drugs.