Dawn, you made some very good points regarding the1996 Balanced Budget Amendment. Even though it has contributed to some positive aspects of our healthcare system. However, due to the high demand for medical services for the aging before 1996, home care had increasingly climbed and the use of Medicare to pay for it grew rapidly and effected the government budget (Vladeck, Winter 2000). As a result, the 1996 Balanced Budget Amendment was used to remedy the issue. It reduced Medicare payments for home care and skilled nursing facilities. Many facilities could not stay afloat and had to close, filed bankruptcy, and did not meet the regulatory requirements (Vladeck, Winter 2000). By trying to remedy and reduce spending, the1996 Balanced
