TY - BOOK ID - 77868557 TI - The truth about health care PY - 2006 SN - 1281244317 9786611244316 0813541158 9780813541150 9780813543529 0813543525 0813538874 9780813538877 9781281244314 661124431X PB - New Brunswick, N.J. Rutgers University Press DB - UniCat KW - Insurance, Health KW - Health Policy KW - Delivery of Health Care KW - Health Care Reform KW - Medical policy. KW - Health care reform. KW - Health care policy KW - Health policy KW - Medical care KW - Medicine and state KW - Policy, Medical KW - Public health KW - Public health policy KW - State and medicine KW - Science and state KW - Social policy KW - Health reform KW - Health system reform KW - Healthcare reform KW - Medical care reform KW - Reform of health care delivery KW - Reform of medical care delivery KW - Medical policy KW - Health insurance KW - Healthcare Reform KW - Health Care Reforms KW - Healthcare Reforms KW - Reform, Health Care KW - Reform, Healthcare KW - Reforms, Health Care KW - Reforms, Healthcare KW - Community-Based Distribution KW - Contraceptive Distribution KW - Delivery of Healthcare KW - Dental Care Delivery KW - Distribution, Non-Clinical KW - Distribution, Nonclinical KW - Distributional Activities KW - Healthcare KW - Healthcare Delivery KW - Healthcare Systems KW - Non-Clinical Distribution KW - Nonclinical Distribution KW - Delivery of Dental Care KW - Health Care KW - Health Care Delivery KW - Health Care Systems KW - Activities, Distributional KW - Activity, Distributional KW - Care, Health KW - Community Based Distribution KW - Community-Based Distributions KW - Contraceptive Distributions KW - Deliveries, Healthcare KW - Delivery, Dental Care KW - Delivery, Health Care KW - Delivery, Healthcare KW - Distribution, Community-Based KW - Distribution, Contraceptive KW - Distribution, Non Clinical KW - Distributional Activity KW - Distributions, Community-Based KW - Distributions, Contraceptive KW - Distributions, Non-Clinical KW - Distributions, Nonclinical KW - Health Care System KW - Healthcare Deliveries KW - Healthcare System KW - Non Clinical Distribution KW - Non-Clinical Distributions KW - Nonclinical Distributions KW - System, Health Care KW - System, Healthcare KW - Systems, Health Care KW - Systems, Healthcare KW - Healthcare Policy KW - National Health Policy KW - Health Policies KW - Health Policy, National KW - Healthcare Policies KW - National Health Policies KW - Policy, Health KW - Policy, Healthcare KW - Policy, National Health KW - Policy Making KW - Group Health Insurance KW - Health Insurance KW - Health Insurance, Voluntary KW - Health Insurance, Group KW - Insurance, Group Health KW - Insurance, Voluntary Health KW - Voluntary Health Insurance KW - Government policy KW - Health care reform KW - #SBIB:316.334.3M50 KW - #SBIB:316.334.3M54 KW - #SBIB:35H436 KW - Organisatie van de gezondheidszorg: algemeen, beleid KW - Organisatie en financiering van de gezondheidszorg KW - Beleidssectoren: welzijn, volksgezondheid en cultuur KW - United States KW - Insurance [Health ] UR - https://www.unicat.be/uniCat?func=search&query=sysid:77868557 AB - The United States spends greatly more per person on health care than any other country but the evidence shows that care is often poor and inappropriate. Despite expenditures of 1.7 trillion dollars in 2003, and growing substantially each year, services remain fragmented and poorly coordinated, and more than 46 million people are uninsured. Why can't America, with its vast array of resources, sophisticated technologies, superior medical research and educational institutions, and talented health care professionals, produce higher quality care and better outcomes? In The Truth about Health Care, David Mechanic explains how health care in America has evolved in ways that favor a myriad of economic, professional, and political interests over those of patients. While money has always had a place in medical care, "big money" and the quest for profits has become dominant, making meaningful reforms difficult to achieve. Mechanic acknowledges that railing against these influences, which are here to stay, can achieve only so much. Instead, he asks whether it is possible to convert what is best about health care in America into a well functioning system that better serves the entire population. Bringing decades of experience as an active health policy participant, researcher, teacher, and consultant to the public and private sectors, Mechanic examines the strengths and weaknesses of our system and how it has evolved. He pays special attention to areas often neglected in policy discussions, such as the loss of public trust in medicine, the tragic state of long-term care, and the relationship of mental health to health care. For anyone who has been frustrated by uncoordinated health networks, insurance denials, and other obstacles to obtaining appropriate care, this book will provide a refreshing and frank look at the system's current and future dilemmas. Mechanic's thoughtful roadmap describes how health plans, healthcare professionals, policymakers, and consumer groups can work together to improve access, quality, fairness, and health outcomes in America. About the Author: ER -