Public Policy Sixth Edition

Background 273

Evolution of Health Care Policy 276

A Hybrid System of Public and Private Health Care 280

The Perils of Being Uninsured 281

Strengths and Weaknesses of the U.S. Health Care System 282

A Pluralistic Health Care System 283

Major Government Health Care Programs 285

Medicare 285

Medicaid 287

Veterans’ Health Care 290

Other Health Care Policy Issues 292

Portability 292

Patients’ Rights 292

Rising Health Care Costs 293

State Policy Innovations 294

Regulation of Prescription Drugs 296

Managed Care Organizations 296

Reducing Health Care Costs 298

Quality of Care 300

Medical Errors 301

Focused Discussion: Should There Be Greater Emphasis on Preventive Health Care? 302

Effectiveness 302

Economic Efficiency Issues 305

Equity and Other Ethical Issues 306

Conclusions 308

Discussion Questions 309

Keywords 309

Major Legislation 309

Suggested Readings 310

Suggested Websites 310

Notes 310