(PDF) (DOC) (JPG)November 17, 2015

MAHWAH, N.J. – There will be a special screening of the documentary film, “Medicare and Medicaid: A fifty-Year Retrospective” on Wednesday, November 18 at 7 p.m. in Friends Hall.

The film was written and produced by Murray Sabrin, Professor of Finance at Ramapo College. The event is free and open to the public.

The film features in-depth discussions with the following:

• Laurence J. Kotlikoff, president of Economic Security Planning, Inc. and William Fairfield Warren Professor at Boston University

• David Knowlton, president and CEO, New Jersey Health Care Quality Institute

• Dr. Gail Reilly, medical director of the Parker Family Health Center, Red Bank, N.J.

• Dr. Lois J. Copeland, former president of the Association of American Physicians and Surgeons

• Dr. Alieta Eck, co-founder of Zarepath Health Center, Franklin, N.J.

• Dr. Gene Cheslock, founder of Parker Family Health Center, Red Bank, N.J.

• Mary Nicosia, director and clinical coordinator of Parker Family Health Center, Red Bank, N.J.

Medicare and Medicaid were created in 1965 as key components of President Johnson’s “Great Society” program. “Great Society” legislation upheld civil rights, public broadcasting, environmental protection, aid to education, the arts, urban and rural development, and Johnson’s “War on Poverty.”

Today, Medicare guarantees health insurance to Americans who are age 65 or older who have paid into the system and to younger Americans with certain disabilities or health conditions. Medicare is financed by payroll deductions and is facing significant financial challenges, with annual spending of nearly $800 billion.

 Passage of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA, or “Obamacare”) significantly expanded the number of Americans eligible for Medicaid, in addition to the federal funding allocated to the program. With the aging of America’s population and the poor’s access to health care via Medicaid uncertain, the cost of health care is a challenge for taxpayers who have to pick up the tab for an annual expense that is nearing one trillion dollars. Critics and supporters have been engaged in lively discussions about how these programs should be reformed — or even abolished — in order to provide better health care outcomes for the elderly and poor in the United States.

Please RSVP to msabrin@ramapo.edu or call 201-684-7373. For disability-related accommodations, please call 201-684-7373.

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About Ramapo College

Ramapo College of New Jersey is the state’s premier public liberal arts college and is committed to academic excellence through interdisciplinary and experiential learning, and international and intercultural understanding. The comprehensive college is situated among the beautiful Ramapo Mountains, is within commuting distance to New York City, was named one of the 50 Most Beautiful College Campuses in America by CondeNast Traveler, and boasts the best on-campus housing in New Jersey per Niche.com. Established in 1969, Ramapo College offers bachelor’s degrees in the arts, business, data science, humanities, social sciences and the sciences, as well as in professional studies, which include business, education, nursing and social work. In addition, the College offers courses leading to teacher certification at the elementary and secondary levels, and offers graduate programs leading to master’s degrees in Accounting, Applied Mathematics, Business Administration, Contemporary Instructional Design, Computer Science, Creative Music Technology, Data Science, Educational Leadership, Nursing, Social Work and Special Education, as well as a Doctor of Nursing Practice.

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