The Economics of Health Reconsidered

by Thomas H. Rice

This book guides you toward reconsidering the field of health economics as it is taught and practiced. It discusses and analyzes the assumptions that must be met for a competitive market to be successful, concludes that these assumptions are not met in the healthcare field, and provides a number of applications for healthcare policy. Among the policy issues addressed * Effects of managed care and capitation on patient care
* Access to care by the poor
* Medical savings accounts

195 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1998

Reviews

[Andrew Partington]

Provides a systematic and cutting critique of the role of markets in health care. Table 3.1 "Assumptions of Market Competition and Their Further Treatment in the Remaining Chapters" can be used as a list for documenting the assumptions required to support market competition, all of which Rice & Unruh dissect using uncontroversial evidence. The authors demonstrate why the General Theory of Second Bests doesn't apply to health care.