Health Policy Issues

Healthcare affects the lives of most Americans and absorbs a large portion of the United States' resources. It also is continually debated, prompting ongoing legislative changes and market restructuring. One of the best ways to understand healthcare, in all its complexity, is from an economic perspective -- that is, from the perspective of the financial self-interest of all involved parties. "Health Policy Issues: An Economic Perspective" takes just such an approach. Paul J. Feldstein describes the forces that press for change in healthcare and explains why the US health system has evolved to its current state. The book's 38 concise, issue-oriented chapters cover various aspects of the US health system, including the cost of medical care, health insurance, Medicare and Medicaid, physician and nursing shortages, medical school admittance, malpractice reform, prescription drug prices, and more. -- From publisher's description.