Understanding Health Policy

by Thomas S. Bodenheimer, Kevin Grumbach

Already the number one text on health policy and rapidly becoming a classic, Understanding Health A Clinical Approach 3E covers such fundamental topics as cost containment, health insurance, managed care, and physician and hospital payment. Extensive case histories, drawn from the authors' actual practice, bring to life important policy issues by pinpointing individual encounters within the healthcare system. New to this Edition
* More information on 2-tier model of reimbursement
* Greater emphasis on defined contribution approach to controlling costs
* Includes comparative information on health care policy in Canada, the UK, and Germany
* "Questions & Discussion Topics" provided for each chapter to stimulate classroom discussion Please consider this important new edition for your course. Your students will gain an engaging text, that according to a review by the Journal of Health, Politics, Policy, and Law of the prior edition, "goes a long way toward helping readers understand how the health care system has worked in the past, how it is changing, and how it might work under different scenarios in the future."

Genres: Health Care

222 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1995

Reviews

[Jasmine · Rating 4 out of 5]

I used this book for the first undergrad class I taught on the US healthcare system. I think that it clearly outlines the major themes in health policy and is a very clear way to learn about the US healthcare system and its many confusing components. Humorous, interesting and thought provoking.

[Nathan Fleming · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bodenheimer wrote the go-to textbook to understand the US health system. It was relevant 10 year ago when I studied it as a medical student, and I still go back to his clear writing and insights as a community physician and author.

[Christine · Rating 3 out of 5]

Health care is complicated. This book makes it a little bit easier to not just understand the difference between Medicaid and Medicare (among many other things) but also HOW it happened to be that way. It makes me optimistic to see that other countries have succeeded in universal coverage in a variety of methods (not just single-payer). It makes me pessimistic, because as it turns out the system didn't get this screwed up all at once and people have tried to fix it previously, with the most "successful" ones solving one problems while creating others. The history helped put the last year in perspective, but I wonder if this will be the time that fixes it. Between working at a low-SES community health center and living with an unemployed person with chronic pain, I have some experience with the health care system, but this book was a clear, broad view of the larger picture. The vignettes overall were good and descriptive, but I could have done without the puns.

[Katie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nice, concise, easy-to-read, and up-to-date little review of how our health care system works (and how it doesn't). Great survey of a immensely complicated system with lots of questions and issues to ponder.

[Sarah Jane · Rating 3 out of 5]

One of the better books that breaks down health policy, sorts through all the bullshit and makes it more accessible to understand.

[Court Corley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Concise introduction to health services. This book, supplemented with relevant recent articles, made learning, understanding, and critically evaluating health services domestically and abroad fun!

[Amanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book for people interested in the health care industry- It also made a great reference book for Discussion Boards

[Angeline Muday · Rating 4 out of 5]

Standard mainstream primer. No histrionics. Good introduction to the system.