“An excellent book for an undergraduate or graduate course on health care policy.” (*)

Fully updated, the new edition of this widely used text combines background and context for the evolution of U.S. health care policy with analysis of recent trends and current issues. The book introduces public policy students to the complex array of health care issues. It provides comprehensive coverage health care professionals to the study of public policy. It provides comprehensive coverage of policy issues related to health care at the federal, state, and provider/patient levels, from Medicare and Medicaid funding and managed care to medical liability law and ongoing debates over beginning of life and end-of-life decisions. The authors integrate political, ethical, economic, legal, technological, and medical factors in an issue-focused survey of U.S. health care policy; and include a chronology of health care policy-related events and legislation from 1798 through 2005, as well as an appendix comparing medical malpractice tort laws state by state.

Endorsements:

“A comprehensive analysis of health care politics and policy in the United States. It is organized as a textbook, and that is meant as praise, rather than qualification. …There was a need for a book that synthesizes the American political structures and variables that produce health care politics and this book provides such a synthesis.” — American Political Science Review (on a previous edition)

“Excellent. …Can quickly bring students and practitioners with little or no background in health policy ‘up to speed’ in this complex policy area.” — Journal of Health Politics, Policy, and Law (on a previous edition)

“An excellent book for an undergraduate or graduate course on health care policy. It concisely covers the basic health care programs, private insurance, and various important issues such as costs and the uninsured.” — Politics and the Life Sciences (*) (on a previous edition)