On July 30, 1965, President Lyndon B. Johnson signed landmark legislation creating Medicare and Medicaid. Sixty years later, the programs represent a fifth of the federal budget and provide coverage to nearly 1 in 4 Americans. In addition, the way Medicare and Medicaid structure and pay for medical care has set the standard for the private sector as well.
On this week’s special episode of KFF Health News’ “What the Health?” podcast, host Julie Rovner interviews two experts on the history, development, impact, and future of Medicare and Medicaid.
First, Rovner talks with Medicare historian and University of North Carolina health policy professor Jonathan Oberlander. Oberlander is the author of the book “The Political Life of Medicare” and a former editor of the Journal of Health Care Policy, Politics and Law.
Then, Rovner chats with Sara Rosenbaum, professor emerita at George Washington University. Rosenbaum has spent nearly her entire career working on Medicaid policy and has helped shape key priorities at the federal and state levels.
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