Our Unsystematic Health Care System

by Grace Budrys

The aim of this book is to present the reader with a comprehensive overview of the U.S. health care delivery system. A central theme running through the book revolves around the fact that Americans have expressed a high level of dissatisfaction with the country's health care arrangements for many years, yet have been unable to come up with reforms that would address the main point of dissatisfaction: the steadily rising cost of care. One of the primary objectives of the book is to provide a clear explanation of the health insurance arrangements operating in this country; both public, such as Medicare, and private, which is generally employment-based. The workings of structures that combine payment and provision of health care services, namely HMOs (Health Maintenance Organizations), are described in detail. The health care systems developed by other countries are examined to illustrate how this country's 'unsystematic system' differs from those in most other highly industrialized countries. Special attention is directed to hospital and health occupational trends. Statistics gathered by government agencies and researchers associated with various nonprofit organizations are used to illustrate points of discussion. The final chapters of the book address attempts to control costs and changes promoted by sponsors of the most recent reform plans.

Genres: Nonfiction, Textbooks

208 pages, Paperback

First published May 23, 2001

Reviews

[megan szymanski]

(CAS 4703, Fall 2022)

[dameolga · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book might be the most apropos book I have ever read, given the current state of affairs in the U.S. government and the whole Obamacare (aka Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act or ACA) debacle. I read this book for my Sociology of Health, Illness, and Medicine class, and before that class, I knew close to nothing about ACA or, for that matter, the U.S. health care system in general. Budrys manages to offer a reasonably comprehensive introduction to the major components and considerations of the complicated mess that is the U.S health care system as well as some information on systems in other countries (eg. Canada, England, Germany, Japan, etc.).

While Budrys comes from a sociology background, she approaches the issue of health care in a holistic way and includes ideas and explanations from both economics and political science as well. One of the core agendas for the book is to determine, with all the data available, relatively how well the U.S. health care system is doing. Budrys, however, leaves that question open ended and asks the readers to form our own beliefs about the state of our health care and the various issues still up in the air. While Budrys does comment on quality of care, she for the most part focuses on access to and cost of health coverage.

For those not yet aware of the many, complicated implications of Obamacare or about the state of the health insurance in the U.S. and who want to get a bit more in depth understanding, I would recommend reading this third edition. On a side note, the third edition was published in 2011, so most of the facts are pretty current, unless Congress decides to change the system yet again. I doubt ACA will get repealed though.

[Frank · Rating 5 out of 5]

My favorite line in the book, "That brings me back to a question that came up in the first chapter to which I said I would return later, namely, why do people from other countries come here for health care? Doesn’t that prove that it is the best health system in the world? My answer is that they do so to get around the “queue,” that is, the waiting line. In most countries, the doctors decide whose case is most urgent and should be dealt with first. In this country, there are always ways to get ahead of the line. Individuals, including for- eigners, can and do get the services they want, if they are willing to pay for that privilege. What do you think? What are the pros and cons of making excellent and expedient health care services available to foreigners as well as fellow Americans who are in a better position to pay for those services? Would you say that this might have the effect of pushing some Americans to the end of the line or out of the line entirely?"

[Jenny · Rating 3 out of 5]

To understand the flaws of the health care system, you should know the short falls that currently exist and why. Awareness is the first step toward change.

Also worthy of note: knowing how our health care system works will enable you to navigate it when you or your family become sick. Maybe this will inspire you to make change!

Read this if you are going into health care in any form as a profession.

[N · Rating 1 out of 5]

Think the Communist Manifesto, but applied to the conversation of healthcare systems. This book lacks a balanced perspective and analysis of economics and social systems. If you like rants with often times an absence of thorough research and cited sources, and you have time to waste your biological clock over things less educative in life, this is the book for you. I write this as someone who is politically left-center oriented.

[Jillian · Rating 2 out of 5]

For school

[Mills College Library]

362.10973 B9279 2012

[Christine Daskais · Rating 4 out of 5]

too many typos but good read