Today is the 50th anniversary of the Medicare Bill—which transformed health care in the United States by providing insurance for people age 65 and older, irrespective of income or pre-existing medical conditions. Just a few months ago the 50th (gold) anniversary of Moore’s Law was celebrated, which predicted the remarkable trajectory of the computer industry and led to the innovation hub in Silicon Valley. Yet even though these two major forces have grown up together, they barely if ever talk to one another. That’s terribly unfortunate and unwise. But it’s not too late.
Medicare will spend more than $600 billion this year and that number is rising quickly as the 75 million baby boomers reach the age of coverage. Many have projected that Medicare is ultimately headed towards insolvency, unable to meet it obligations, unless something is done. That something could be convergence with Moore’s Law. Its cost curve over the past 5 decades is diametrically opposite to that of Medicare’s.
Read the full op-ed on the HuffPost website.
