Health Policy Issues: An Economic Perspective

The Affordable Care Act (ACA), the most significant public policy enacted in many years, affects all aspects of healthcare financing and delivery. Health Policy Issues: An Economic Perspective, Sixth Edition, has been thoroughly revised to explain the magnitude of this legislation and how it affects everyone, including physicians, hospitals, employers, employees, insurers, the uninsured, and state and federal governments. Renowned economist Paul Feldstein not only addresses the underlying issues and politics of healthcare but also explains why the health system has evolved to its current state. Thirty-six short, topical chapters give students a comprehensive overview of the delivery of medical services through a unique economic perspective. Reflecting the widespread implications of the ACA, specific components of the ACA are discussed in the context of many of the book’s chapters. Consequently, the ACA is linked to topics such as: the rise of medical expenditures; the high price of prescription drugs; the impending shortage of physicians; the future role of hospitals; the evolution of managed care; the new edition of this highly regarded book incorporates current events, recent data, and new research to promote classroom discussion about the more significant issues underlying the politics and economics of healthcare. Ideally suited for health policy and economics courses, this book encourages students to think critically and clearly about issues involving physicians, nurses, health insurance, competition, the pharmaceutical industry, and more. It includes a glossary of terms and an appendix that briefly summarizes the ACA.