On July 30, 1965, President Lyndon Johnson signed into legislation the Social Security Amendments establishing the Medicare and Medicaid program. Since then, these programs have expanded beyond the original coverage for Medicare Part A (Hospital Insurance) and Part B (Medical Insurance) to include people with disabilities, those with end-stage renal disease, and to offer prescription drug coverage. Medicaid was established to provide health coverage for low-income individuals and families but has evolved to cover pregnant women, those with special needs, disabilities and those caring for these individuals. While Medicare is a federal program, Medicaid is jointly funded by federal and state funds but administered by states. It covers 23% of all Pennsylvanians, which is approximately three million people including 59% of all Nursing Home Residents and 35% of all births in Pennsylvania.
