Understanding Health Policy

by Thomas S. Bodenheimer, Kevin Grumbach

"This highly readable text gives a broad but detailed picture of how health care is organized and dispensed in the United States." -Annals of Internal Medicine, on the First Edition The #1 text on health policy, this well-known book provides a short introduction to U.S. health care policy by two leading experts who are themselves practicing physicians. The Fourth Edition features the latest information on cost containment, health insurance, managed care, hospital payment, and the new two-tier model of physician reimbursement.

Genres: Health Care, Medicine

388 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1995

Reviews

[Jasmine]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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

[Court Corley]

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]

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

[Angeline Muday]

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