Publication Date:April 1995 Availability:In stock soon. Order now to get in line. First come, first served.
Editorial Reviews:
Product Description This book provides a point of view on the debate about health care delivery in the U.S., particularly in light of the debate surrounding the Patient Protection Act.
Customer Reviews:
Enlightened thinking for moving health care delivery forwardJuly 5, 2001 Paula R. Margolis(Richmond, VA United States) Havighurst adds a very needed point a view to the debate about health care devlivery in the US, particularly in light of the debate surrounding the Patient Protection Act. Havighurst outlines that the biggest factor contributing to problems in health care financing rests in the fact that the financing structure of employee-based insurance de-couples consumption of services from cost. In addition, the dominance of health care by the medical profession's vague and subjective standards regarding medical necessity coupled with the American myth of health care as a right sets up a system where cost is not taken into account when making treatment decisions. The Congressional Budget Office estimates the the Patients Bill of Rights will cause in increase in insurance premiums of 4.2%; about 1.7% of this will be "passed through" to workers in the form of less taxeble income, resulting in a loss of about $22 billion in Social Security taxes over the next nine years, further straining an already weak program. The rest of the increase will cause a decrease in benefits, employers dropping coverage, and higher employee costs. Havighurst's book outlines how innovative health care contracts can be structured to provide varied levels of coverage and pricing, in order to allow real choice in benefits and costs, rather than letting the Federal governement dictate the degree of insurance one must purchase. It is a worthwhile read for anyone intersted in health policy.
