Health Care Trends In The 1980's

Healthcare Trends. In the 1980’s there was a shift toward privatization of health care as corporations began not only to integrate the hospital system, but also entered many other health-care related businesses and consolidate control (Evashwick, 2005). In 1981, the first assisted living opened in Portland, Oregon as an alternative living options for older adults who were unhappy with nursing homes. It provided a type of elderly care that offered a level of attention and independence less than a nursing homes, but more than an independent living situation. The rapid growth of this industry over the next twenty years was due to the changing attitudes of consumers who viewed the institutionalized style of nursing homes and rumors of mistreatment and neglect as no longer acceptable for most aging seniors and their families. (Wilson, 2007). In addition, managed care programs grew exponentially in the 80’s and were given credit for reducing medical inflation. However, managed care programs were criticized for decreasing the amount of time doctors spent with patients and denying medical care, particularly for mental health (Kongstvedt, 2009). …show more content…
In the 1980’s, the nation started addressing mental health again in the political forum. In 1980, the Mental Health Systems Act provided federal funding for ongoing support and development of community mental health programs with an emphasis on deinstitutionalization. Also in 1989, the Amendments to the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act proposed new federal requirements for long-term care which allowed more services in skilled nursing facilities for the aging, and it ended a 15-year period in which the federal regulations remained static (Allen, 2011). The expanded services in skilled nursing facilities provided mental health