Restructuring Medicare for the next century: What will beneficiaries really need?

Medicare coverage falls short of its original mandate of access to modern m edicine and protection against the high costs of medical care. These shortf alls destabilize both health outcomes and the economic Viability of older a dults and their families. Our proposed revisions would promote, rather than discourage, optimal care for beneficiaries. By replacing incentives for fr agmented, episodic care with an orientation toward functional status, care management, and integration with long-term care, we can make an invaluable investment in a successfully aging society.