Chapter 8: Health Care Policy
Study
The
focus of Chapter 8 is health care policy, with an emphasis on the rising cost
of care and the role that government and citizens can play in reducing expenses
and improving the health of Americans. The text surveys the major government
institutions that deal with health care, both historically and currently, and
indicates the most useful information sources about health care policy, most of
which are Web accessible. A brief account of the evolution of U.S. health care
policy helps explain the nation’s unique approach to the issue, especially the
dominant role played by private health insurance companies (through
employer-provided health care benefits), and the challenges facing citizens who
have no health insurance.
The
pluralistic U.S.
health care system is described in detail to illustrate the variety of
government institutions and programs in the health care arena. Special
attention is given to the major federal and state programs, especially
Medicare, Medicaid, and the veterans health care
system--their provisions, costs, and the criticisms directed at them--and
commonly suggested reforms. The government’s new program to include
prescription drug coverage as part of Medicare also is discussed. Other health
care issues, such as portability of insurance when individuals change jobs,
patients’ rights, and the strengths and limitations of health maintenance
organizations (HMOs), receive concentrated study as well.
The
chapter includes a review of such issues as the quality of U.S. health care, questions of
equity in the provision of health care services, and the central role of
lifestyle choices and wellness activities in both improving public health and
holding down health care costs. The focused discussion deals with the issue of
whether there should be a greater emphasis on preventative health care, such as
reducing the level of obesity and cigarette smoking in the United States.
