Unorthodox Lawmaking and the Decline of Social Insurance in the Medicare Modernization Act of 2003
Date of Award
2006
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Bachelors
Department
Social Sciences
First Advisor
Fitzgerald, Keith
Keywords
Medicare, Social insurance, Unorthodox Lawmaking, Prescription Drugs
Area of Concentration
Public Policy
Abstract
On December 8, 2003, President George W. Bush signed the Medicare Prescription Drug, Modernization, and Improvement Act of 2003 (MMA) into law. The MMA was a drastic shift in the course of Medicare policy, particularly in its abandonment of traditional social insurance principles. This thesis explores this policy outcome from an historical institutionalist perspective by looking at the changes in institutions (Congress, political parties, the President, bureaucracies, interest groups) over time. Changes in the distribution of power of these institutions can account for most of the content of this important legislation. The thesis also identifies a new type of unorthodox lawmaking which stresses the unusually strong power of political parties during this time period. This ruthless lawmaking is evident in the MMA, but is certainly not limited to Medicare or health policy.
Recommended Citation
Nash, Sydney, "Unorthodox Lawmaking and the Decline of Social Insurance in the Medicare Modernization Act of 2003" (2006). Theses & ETDs. 3685.
https://digitalcommons.ncf.edu/theses_etds/3685
Rights
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