Governing Health: The Politics of Health Policy

by Carol S. Weissert, William G. Weissert

Despite widespread perceptions to the contrary, health care reform in the United States has blossomed since 1965--molded in large part by changes in the nation's chief political institutions. But until now, there has been little attempt to look at health care policymaking from a long-term political perspective. Governing Health does just that. Drawing on political science research on the institutions of government and the policy process, Governing Health explains how health policy is made. It describes how the Congress, the president, special interest groups, bureaucracy, and state governments affect the process of defining health policy problems and finding politically feasible solutions. It also provides an extensive review of the policies that have governed health care for a generation or more, starting with the passage of Medicare in 1965 and continuing through the national health care debate of 1993-94. "Sociologists and economists have authored or contributed to a small number of worthy volumes bringing their disciplines' perspectives to the topic of health politics and policy," write the authors, and "while they have much to offer, a gap remains. Politics is more than the sociology of institutions or economic self-interest. Health care policy is politics at its richest and fullest." "The Weisserts have done a splendid job. This is a first rate book; comprehensive, intelligently organized, even-handed, analytically satisfying, historically grounded, fast-moving, and smart. It is easily the best health policy book I have seen."--James A. Morone, former editor, Journal of Health Politics, Policy, and Law

464 pages, Paperback

First published April 1, 1902

Reviews

[Ella · Rating 4 out of 5]

2006 edition - there is an updated edition now out.

[Nathan · Rating 3 out of 5]

A pretty good overview of healthcare governance and policy in the US, but a bit shallow on some complex aspects of the system and dwells a bit too much on some simpler topics. It's also not the best writing around (then again, it is an academic text). Given the constantly-shifting nature of the topic it's also worth noting that it's only as good as the most recent update. If you're willing to do a lot of Googling to fill in the gaps, though, it's a good introduction to the subject.

[Holly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Political science view on the health care debate. I love that it shares the historical tales and political toil rather than focusing on socio-economic issues.