Health of Nations

by Graig, Laurene A.

• ISBN13: 9781568023601
• ISBN10: 156802360X
• Edition: 3rd
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 1999-06-01
• Publisher: Cq Pr

Summary

Health of Nations provides detailed overviews of the health care systems of the United States, Canada, Germany, Japan, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom and compares and contrasts the health care systems of these five other with the United States. ''''In this thoroughly revised third edition, author Laurene Graig analyzes the health care delivery systems in each of these countries and makes expert and insightful assessments about what works... what doesn't work... and what promising new ideas are now being tested. Health of Nations provides an excellent cross-national comparison of the major healthcare systems in existence today.'''''' The book is an excellent reference guide for students of international policy or anyone seeking information on U.S. Health care reform.

Author Biography

Laurene A. Graig serves as a research analyst for Watson Wyatt, an independent worldwide consulting firm.

Table of Contents

Tables and Figures	p. ix
Foreword	p. xi
Preface	p. xiii
Health Care: an International Perspective	p. 1
Health Care Paradigms	p. 2
Health Services Continuum	p. 3
Convergence among Health Systems	p. 4
Limits to Convergence	p. 7
Parameters of the Study	p. 7
Managing the U.S. Health Care System	p. 9
A System in Constant Flux	p. 9
Health Insurance Coverage in the United States	p. 13
Back to the Future	p. 17
Health Care Reform Takes Center Stage	p. 20
Managed Care's Transformation of the U.S. Health Care System	p. 22
From There to Here	p. 23
Managed Care's Impact on Provider Payment	p. 27
Managed Care as Effective Agent of Cost Control	p. 29
Costs: What Goes Down Must Come Up	p. 30
Managed Care under Fire	p. 33
The Future: Incremental Approach as the Only Game in Town	p. 35
It Ain't Over Yet	p. 38
German Health Care: Bismarck's Grand (and Enduring) Design	p. 40
Overview of the German Health Care System	p. 41
Health Care Expenditures, Then and Now	p. 42
Present at the Creation: Tracing the Roots of National Health Insurance	p. 45
The Current System: Health Care Benefits, Organization, and Financing	p. 49
Outside the Sickness Fund System: The Privately Insured	p. 54
Long-Term Care Insurance Program	p. 55
Health Care Delivery	p. 56
Twenty Years of Health Care Cost Control: 1977-Present	p. 60
Health Care Reform as a Permanent State?	p. 65
Convergence	p. 71
Health Care in the Netherlands: Managed Competition Goes Dutch	p. 73
Overview of the Dutch Health Care System	p. 74
Dutch Health Care: History and Current Organization	p. 75
Health Care Financing	p. 80
Health Care Delivery	p. 80
Health Care Reform in the Netherlands	p. 83
Outlook for the Future	p. 87
Changing Roles in the Dutch Health Care Sector	p. 88
Convergence	p. 89
Made in Japan: Universal Health Insurance	p. 91
The Japanese Advantage	p. 91
Confluence of East and West	p. 95
Legislating Health Insurance Coverage	p. 98
Organized Complexity	p. 99
Health Care Delivery	p. 107
Controlling Health Care Costs: Nationwide Fee Schedule	p. 110
The Sun Also Sets on Japanese Health Care	p. 112
Convergence	p. 119
Northern Exposure: Canada's National Health Insurance System	p. 121
Overview of Canadian Health Care	p. 123
Canadian National Health Insurance: A Long Time Coming	p. 124
Medicare Is Born	p. 127
Political and Cultural Underpinnings of Canadian Health Care	p. 128
Health Care Delivery in Canada	p. 130
Canadian Health Care Financing	p. 133
Health Care Cost-Control, Canadian-Style	p. 140
The Future of Canadian Health Care	p. 146
Convergence	p. 147
Reforming the British National Health Service	p. 151
Overview of British Health Care	p. 153
Britain's Sacred Cow: The National Health Service	p. 154
NHS Financing	p. 156
Health Care Delivery	p. 160
The Role of the Private Sector	p. 163
NHS Reforms: Working for Patients	p. 164
Toward the NHS's Next Half Century	p. 170
Convergence	p. 173
International Experience and U.S. Health Care	p. 175
The United States Is Unique	p. 177
Limited Convergence among Systems	p. 179
Aging Populations	p. 180
The Future of U.S. Health Care	p. 182
Six Systems at a Glance	p. 185
References	p. 191
Index	p. 217
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