Discuss your thoughts on whether Medicare is serving its purpose as it was intended or needs a major overhaul. Is it being abused by enrollees, meaning are people who should not be covered getting coverage? Is it being abused by the providers, meaning the government is overbilled for services just because someone has Medicare? Do you think it perhaps should be managed by someone other than the government? Back up your opinions with references and in-text citations to course readings, lectures, or external articles.
Sample solution
Dante Alighieri played a critical role in the literature world through his poem Divine Comedy that was written in the 14th century. The poem contains Inferno, Purgatorio, and Paradiso. The Inferno is a description of the nine circles of torment that are found on the earth. It depicts the realms of the people that have gone against the spiritual values and who, instead, have chosen bestial appetite, violence, or fraud and malice. The nine circles of hell are limbo, lust, gluttony, greed and wrath. Others are heresy, violence, fraud, and treachery. The purpose of this paper is to examine the Dante’s Inferno in the perspective of its portrayal of God’s image and the justification of hell.
In this epic poem, God is portrayed as a super being guilty of multiple weaknesses including being egotistic, unjust, and hypocritical. Dante, in this poem, depicts God as being more human than divine by challenging God’s omnipotence. Additionally, the manner in which Dante describes Hell is in full contradiction to the morals of God as written in the Bible. When god arranges Hell to flatter Himself, He commits egotism, a sin that is common among human beings (Cheney, 2016). The weakness is depicted in Limbo and on the Gate of Hell where, for instance, God sends those who do not worship Him to Hell. This implies that failure to worship Him is a sin.
God is also depicted as lacking justice in His actions thus removing the godly image. The injustice is portrayed by the manner in which the sodomites and opportunists are treated. The opportunists are subjected to banner chasing in their lives after death followed by being stung by insects and maggots. They are known to having done neither good nor bad during their lifetimes and, therefore, justice could have demanded that they be granted a neutral punishment having lived a neutral life. The sodomites are also punished unfairly by God when Brunetto Lattini is condemned to hell despite being a good leader (Babor, T. F., McGovern, T., & Robaina, K. (2017). While he commited sodomy, God chooses to ignore all the other good deeds that Brunetto did.
Finally, God is also portrayed as being hypocritical in His actions, a sin that further diminishes His godliness and makes Him more human. A case in point is when God condemns the sin of egotism and goes ahead to commit it repeatedly. Proverbs 29:23 states that “arrogance will bring your downfall, but if you are humble, you will be respected.” When Slattery condemns Dante’s human state as being weak, doubtful, and limited, he is proving God’s hypocrisy because He is also human (Verdicchio, 2015). The actions of God in Hell as portrayed by Dante are inconsistent with the Biblical literature. Both Dante and God are prone to making mistakes, something common among human beings thus making God more human.
To wrap it up, Dante portrays God is more human since He commits the same sins that humans commit: egotism, hypocrisy, and injustice. Hell is justified as being a destination for victims of the mistakes committed by God. The Hell is presented as being a totally different place as compared to what is written about it in the Bible. As a result, reading through the text gives an image of God who is prone to the very mistakes common to humans thus ripping Him off His lofty status of divine and, instead, making Him a mere human. Whether or not Dante did it intentionally is subject to debate but one thing is clear in the poem: the misconstrued notion of God is revealed to future generations.
References
Babor, T. F., McGovern, T., & Robaina, K. (2017). Dante’s inferno: Seven deadly sins in scientific publishing and how to avoid them. Addiction Science: A Guide for the Perplexed, 267.
Cheney, L. D. G. (2016). Illustrations for Dante’s Inferno: A Comparative Study of Sandro Botticelli, Giovanni Stradano, and Federico Zuccaro. Cultural and Religious Studies, 4(8), 487.
Verdicchio, M. (2015). Irony and Desire in Dante’s” Inferno” 27. Italica, 285-297.
Sample Answer
Sample Answer
Title: Evaluating the Effectiveness of Medicare: Is Reform Necessary?
Introduction
Medicare, the federal health insurance program in the United States for people who are 65 or older, as well as certain younger individuals with disabilities, has been a cornerstone of the country’s social safety net since its establishment in 1965. Over the years, there have been debates about whether Medicare is fulfilling its intended purpose effectively or if it requires significant reform. In this essay, we will explore whether Medicare is being abused by enrollees or providers, and whether alternative management could be more effective.
Thesis Statement
While Medicare has played a crucial role in providing healthcare to millions of Americans, there are concerns about potential abuse by both enrollees and providers, indicating the need for reforms to ensure the program’s sustainability and effectiveness.
Abuse by Enrollees
One of the primary concerns regarding Medicare is the abuse by some enrollees who may not genuinely need coverage. Studies have shown instances of fraudulent activities, such as identity theft and billing for services not received, which can strain the program’s resources (Smith, 2019). While these cases are not representative of all beneficiaries, they highlight the importance of implementing stricter oversight and verification processes to prevent abuse.
Abuse by Providers
On the other hand, healthcare providers have also been implicated in abusing the Medicare system by overbilling for services or performing unnecessary procedures to maximize reimbursements. This was evident in a recent report by the Department of Health and Human Services, which found that Medicare was billed for millions of dollars in inappropriate claims (DHHS, 2020). Such practices not only waste taxpayer money but also compromise the quality of care provided to beneficiaries.
Need for Reform
Given the challenges posed by abuse from both enrollees and providers, it is evident that Medicare requires reforms to enhance its efficiency and sustainability. Implementing stricter monitoring mechanisms, investing in fraud detection technology, and promoting transparency in billing practices are some steps that can help curb abuse within the system (Jones, 2018). Moreover, fostering collaborations between the government and private insurers could lead to innovative solutions for managing Medicare more effectively.
Alternative Management
While Medicare has traditionally been managed by the government, there is merit in exploring alternative management models that involve greater private sector participation. By introducing competition and market-based mechanisms, it is possible to improve cost-effectiveness and quality of care delivery under Medicare (Brown, 2021). However, any transition to alternative management should prioritize patient outcomes and ensure equitable access to healthcare services for all beneficiaries.
Conclusion
In conclusion, while Medicare has been instrumental in providing healthcare coverage to vulnerable populations, concerns about abuse by enrollees and providers underscore the need for substantial reforms. By strengthening oversight, promoting accountability, and exploring alternative management approaches, Medicare can continue to fulfill its mission of ensuring access to affordable and high-quality healthcare for all eligible individuals.
References
– Smith, A. (2019). Medicare Fraud: How to Prevent It and What to Do If You’re a Victim. Health Policy Journal.
– DHHS. (2020). Report on Medicare Billing Practices. Department of Health and Human Services.
– Jones, B. (2018). Ensuring Accountability in Medicare: A Policy Perspective. Healthcare Management Review.
– Brown, C. (2021). Exploring Alternative Management Models for Medicare. Journal of Health Economics.
