As mentioned, Social Security was, in part, originally meant to help older Americans purchase health care in settings outside the almshouses and poor farms. The 1950 Social Security amendments allowed for Social Security dollars (including Old Age Assistance) to be paid directly to health care providers, and it is likely no coincidence that Old Age Assistance (1) to health care providers increased from $36 million to $280 million in the 10 short years that followed. (read more…)
(1) Payne, Michael R. “How Did We End Up Here?” A Critical Inquiry Regarding the Evolution of the American Nursing Home and Ohio’s Medicaid Funding Formula: http://www.ohiolink.edu/etd/view.cgi?acc_num=miami1154010278